Bullying can be stopped if students, parents and teachers work together
The Cosmo and Kolding Realskole have a moral obligation to reduce bullying. Furthermore, the charter agreement lay down by the school board specifically states that the school strives to “provide a safe physical and emotional environment”. At school, teachers are doing their best to keep an eye open for potential bully situations and if possible stop them before they take place, though this is not always possible.
That being said, parents also have an obligation to help stop bullying, and we are not able to help and take action, unless we are informed by the students and/or the parents, so please inform the class room teacher, if there is anything we should be aware of.
If bullying occurs, we will have a serious talk with the student or students, who bully, and thereafter the parents will be informed. Should such an incident arise a second time, we will consider suspend the student in question for a shorter period, and if the bullying does not stop hereafter, the final step will be to expel the student from our school.
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me…”
Do you remember that old nursery rhyme? Honestly, it wasn’t true when you were in school, and it isn’t true now. Teasing, taunting and other forms of bullying can cause serious emotional harm to children, and it may last much longer than a bloody nose or scraped knees.
Before the summer holidays a 12-year-old Danish boy committed suicide by hanging himself in a tree after having been the victim of excessive bullying from other students of his own age. Due to an Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, popularly called ADHD, this young boy proved to be an easy target for bullies at his school, and according to the Danish newspapers “…these bullies drove him over the edge of what he was able to endure”.
Even though the dead boy’s mother was well aware that he was having problems at school, she was totally taken by surprise by her son’s suicide. The dead boy was due to move to a new school, where his brother had already moved, because of the persistent bullying. The school has been criticised for not having done enough to stop the incessant bullying.
What can we do to prevent something as horrible as this from happening ever again?
Before trying to answer that question I believe it is necessary to explore what bullying really is and how we can stop bullies and bullying at school?
What is bullying?
Bullying can be defined in many different ways, and even though many countries do not have a legal definition of bullying, it can generally been seen as peer abuse. The reasons for bullying might be many; but most students have a tendency of bullying those who are in some ways different.
Bullying is every intentional act aimed at harming others, through verbal harassment, name calling and use of foul language, physical assault or other more subtle methods of coercion such as manipulation, threats or the like.
A definition of bullying can be when a person is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more persons. The negative actions are, when a person intentionally inflicts injury or discomfort upon another person, through physical contact, words or in other ways.
Electronic bullying also known as cyber-bullying
Bullying can also happen on-line or electronically. This form of harassment is known as cyber-bullying. It occurs when someone bullies through the Internet, over mobile phones or via other electronic means of communication. Examples include sending mean-spirited text, e-mail, or instant messages; posting inappropriate pictures or messages about others on blogs or on websites; using someone else’s user name and identity to spread rumors or lies about someone and finally lying to hurt internally and externally.
Some facts about bullying
A rough estimate made by the Danish Children’s Council (Børnerådet) says that 7% or every 14th child will experience being bullied once a week.
According to the survey from the Danish Children’s Council:
- 55 % of all students experience being called names;
- 46 % are bullied because of their appearance, clothes, glass and the like;
- 44 % are excluded by their peers;
- 30 % are being hit or pushed around;
- 13 % receive obscene text messages.
Other facts about bullying:
- There are just as much bullying in classes with many students as in class with few students;
- The number of students being bullied is the same all over the country from Jutland, Fyn and Zealand;
- It is mostly students in 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th classes, who bully each other.
Stop bullying
Please help us to stop bullying by informing us about any incidents that might be classified as bullying.
Please bear in mind that it is very important for the students to remember to bring their lunch every day. They all have rather long school days, and we see a clear difference in their concentration before and after they have eaten. 
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Proficiency in English.
We already have students that join our lessons every day – mostly from 13 pm until 13.45 pm. Here they speak English and are taught in English. The students will be provided with extra teaching material other than what they use at Kolding Realskole, and they might have homework.
A bit too optimistic
As with normal influenza you should be attentive to the child without panicking. The H1N1 influenza lasts approximately 7 days. Please keep your child at home for at least two days, after he or she is well and on their feet again, as it lessens the risk of contaminating our students, teachers and staff at the school.
1) Between State approved art and subculture / underground – Animated films in the former DDR