Have you been bullied? Majority of those surveyed in Benoni say ‘yes’
After an article about the death of 13-year-old Louis de Jonge, who allegedly died from injuries sustained during a bullying incident, the City Times conducted a learner survey outside Benoni High School and Hoërskool Hans Moore.
READ:
Boy (13) dies after alleged bullying at Noorderlig
The aim was to establish how the youth of Benoni feel about bullying in schools and how it should be handled.
Ten learners of different ages were asked whether they had been bullied, if they felt confident to ask for help and what advice they would give those who are being bullied.
They were also asked to explain how parents and teachers ought to handle situations whereby peers are being bullied.
Nine of the 10 learners admitted to having been bullied at some point in their lives.
Four of the 10 learners said they believe victims do not have the kind of relationship with their parents to tell them about it and most of the children who admitted to being bullied, said they did not want to speak up for fear of being bullied even more.
A matric learner at Hans Moore said he believes victims of bullying are afraid to come forward because they fear being bullied further.
When asked if his school was raising awareness of the problem, he said his principal, Ertjies Hattingh, has a zero tolerance policy towards bullying.
One girl, also a matric learner at the same school, said she would like to see schools take immediate action to fight bullying once they hear of such cases.
She was of the opinion that victims are reluctant to speak with their parents as some children do not have the sort of relationship that allows them to be upfront with their parents about the problem.
“You know dads often tend to say ‘man up and fight’ when their son talks about bullying,” she said adding that boys would rather keep it to themselves. She said when she experienced bullying she would just ignore the bullies as time went on.
An 18-old-girl at Benoni High School said her school’s structures are designed to combat bullying.
She said she was bullied when she was younger because of her weight.
A Grade Eight learner at Hans Moore said she experienced extreme bullying in her primary school a year earlier and tried to commit suicide because of it.
She said girls called her names and wrote mean things about her on the school’s walls.
She also said a letter containing humiliating and untrue statements was circulated in her classroom and when a teacher found the letter, she intervened. According to the girl, the teacher, her mother and listening to music helped her overcome the bullying.
One mother, Sonja Yzelle, who was present when the City Times spoke to her son Jason, said schools must implement platforms where children can ask for help anonymously when they are bullied.
A 17-year-old Benoni High School learner also said she did not have a platform from which to speak up about her bullies.
She also said schools have talks about sex, but no awareness is being raised regarding bullying.
Editor’s note:
The City Times did not name all the learners as they are minors.
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