The Bullying Culture

From the beginning of school, all students have experienced someone who targets them. Chooses them to be different and then pursues them. Making it clear to peers that they are different and making sure that they are sensitive about it. Bullying is in our schooling culture, yet it is not limited to that institution it can be found in the work place or even within families. Why are we intolerant of others, what causes us to think we have a right to judge without being judged? My main idea that I plan to address in this blog is the concept of bullying culture and why it exists and how it is policed by authorities.

Tolerance is identified in Ho's (2011) article as the education and acknowledgement of the other with acceptance or at least indifference. Yet with bullying it becomes apparent that education highlights the difference in turn fuels the means for the bully to pursue a victim. Within the school environment individuals become isolated because they are deemed different, be it culturally or physically, or their temperament or beliefs. There is a distinct identification of otherness which in turn is what is identified by others. For example, a female playing sport with a co-ed class, she beats a boy she is called a man or butch or tank. Does this mean bullying is a response by the bully to defend his/her weakness? Are the boys challenging this female completing a reflex action as she has threatened their manliness? Same as bullies whom pick on culture, is it a response out of fear that this new pedagogy taking away what is comfortably theirs. When considering solutions in terms of the bullying culture, it needs to be considered the origins of the culture itself.  I cannot provide the solution, but I suggest that determine the root cause in teaching of tolerance, no yet further teaching a culture of acceptance. By this I don't mean a world of happy rainbows where everyone loves one another unconditionally, I suggest a culture supported on the basis of education of others and appropriate response. By this I mean where within the classroom there are discussion regarding difference, but also likeness and what that means for the way we interact similarly suggested in the SMH article by AAP (2007). The thought of such classes even makes me uncomfortable thinking about it. But for the to be the change in the culture the way respond needs a severe change.

Within the schooling system their are many ways in which bullying is policed by teachers and other authorities. The is  the kids help line (1800 55 1800), school councillor and Personal development, health and physical education (PDHPE) classes for students to hear about bullying and the appropriate ways to deal with incidents. What are these mechanisms really saying? Yes there is a problem within our education system, yes students whom are being bullied require support. For the bully, depending on the incident it can range from a slap on the wrist to expulsion, but what does this teach, oh you're a naughty person for hurting others you don't deserve to be part of our community. What truly needs to be addressed is why do people bully?

To end this long winded blog on bullying I will sum up with 3 main ideas.
Bullying is a culture which has been developed over hundreds of years of intolerance to others.
This culture will not be changed quickly or ever truly become extinct
Drastic change in the way we respond and include acceptance within the curriculum will start the reform.

References
AAP (2011) NSW Liberals announce a school bullying plan. The Sydney Morning Herald
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/nsw-liberals-announce-school-bullying-plan-20110306-1bj95.html
AAP (2007) School bullying can be controlled: study. The Sydney Morning Herald
http://news.smh.com.au/national/school-bullying-can-be-controlled-study-20070711-n51.html
Ho,C. (2011) Respecting the Presence of other: School Micropublics and Everyday Multiculturalism, Journal of Intercultural Studies, 32:6, 603-619.