Leading expert on bullying, Professor Debra Pepler of York University condemns Canada for failing to manage its rampant bullying problem. Professor Pepler’s criticisms are valid not just for Canada, but for all countries. You would think that since we have a greater understanding of the issue and Governments have pumped mega dollars in fighting the problem that we would have seen some results. Unfortunately, this is not the case:
Canada is not doing a good job of addressing bullying so it remains a major problem, says one of the country’s leading experts on the issue.
“Here we are, a country that has an international reputation of being so nice and dealing with issues of diversity, inclusion and equity, and yet at the level of children, we really aren’t doing a good job,” said Professor Debra Pepler of York University, who is also a scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children.
“We are not keeping them safe; we are not providing them with the necessary supports to learn how to live in healthy relationships,” added Pepler, a founder of PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network), a national network of researchers.
With the recent news of an 11-year-old Pickering boy who killed himself earlier this month — with bullying one of the many factors involved — many now wonder what more can be done.
The parents of Mitchell Wilson say their son, who suffered from muscular dystrophy, began a downward spiral of depression and anxiety following a November 2010 mugging and subsequent bullying by older students at Westcreek Public School.
It’s time schools spent less energy trying to protect themselves from lawsuits and invest more into improving its culture and ramping up the consequences for bullying infringements. Inept policies and programs may be enough to avoid legal suits but it has never come close to dealing with the problem.
Success in curbing bullying is every bit as important as academic achievement. Ultimately, both go hand in hand. You are unlikely to get a child to perform at their potential when they are being victimised and tormented.
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