Australia would be smart to recognize the harm done and take steps to stop it

School bully victims paid $1m | The Daily Telegraph
SCHOOL bullying victims have received almost $1 million in compensation from the Department of Education since January last year.
One student who was harassed over 10 years won $500,000 in a court settlement, while two children were paid more than $15,000 each after their arms were broken by bullies.
Another boy was paid more than $4200 because he claimed harassment by teachers caused him to fail his HSC.
The claims, which include both physical and severe psychological injuries up to September 30, were obtained under freedom of information laws by the Opposition.
The figures show students whose claims were settled by the department received less than those who went to court.
A student who claimed to have been assaulted and that bullying caused a psychiatric illness was given $11,636.
The claims coincide with the Child Death Review Team this year that revealed several students committed suicide in 2009 after being bullied.
One boy who claimed to suffer from gender identity disorder was "teased and threatened" at school.
Another boy was driven out of school by "taunts" in the lead-up to his suicide, while a third boy was also the subject of "taunts and bullying" while at his school.
The compensation claims show staff won payouts of more than $5000 between them over bullying cases, including ongoing sexual harassment in the school workplace and bullying and victimisation by a superior.
"These documents confirm that bullying is rife in our public schools, with both students and teachers feeling the brunt of it," Opposition education spokesman Adrian Piccoli said yesterday.
"What is worse is the state is losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in claims from students and teachers that have been victims of bullying.
"Bullying can leave its victims with severe and lasting physical and psychological damage, and it must be stamped out immediately."
A spokesman for Education Minister Verity Firth said there were 26 claims which were "a tiny proportion" of staff and students.
"We have given principals the power to impose strong sanctions to counter bullying, including suspensions of up to 20 days," he said.
"NSW public schools are among the safest places in the community for young people, and serious incidents of violence are rare."
The department has introduced a web guide for parents on cyber bullying, including tips on how to prevent it.
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To my knowledge there is no school program to prevent bullying.
Government websites and information available are not given to school students, without mentors this problem will not be improving by itself.
Bullying is a technique for gaining power ; power that the bullies enjoy. Therefore, they will not stop at school it will continue in the workplace, family home and streets.
We need to take bullying as a real problem and action anti-bullying information and policies, no doubt it will improve students, teachers and the general population.
Australia would be smart to recognize the harm done and take steps to stop it by integrating bullying studies in their curriculum.
Education is often the key to solve all humanity problems.