| Anti-Bullying Week events have been taking place across the country all week as teachers, parents and pupils take a united stand against the scourge.
Dundee City Council said it was encouraged many of its schools had opted into the initiative.
At St John’s RC High, youngsters involved in a recently formed anti-bullying awareness group staged a fair, highlighting the issues that result from bullying.
Teacher Johnny Lothian said the group was a student-led project.
“We want the school to be a safer place to be and by creating a sustainable initiative tying in with the school and council anti-bullying policy.”
Student youth worker Caithleen Bell, currently on placement at Grove Academy, organised a “ring of hope”, a circle comprising dozens of pupils.
She said during her time on placement at school she had seen a number of cases of bullying, often quietly hidden away from open view.
“Bullying is something I feel very strongly about, and from my own experiences as well. It is often perceived as not a big problem. We see it all the time. It’s not massive, but very often it’s hidden. I think almost every school is like that. You just don’t hear much about it.”
City council education convener Councillor Kevin Keenan said the authority takes the issue of bullying very seriously.
“There are anti-bullying policies and individual strategies in place in every school across Dundee to encourage the victims of bullying and also witnesses to speak out. We try to support pupils who say they are being bullied, investigate their claims, and let them know something is being done about it while the claims are being looked into.” |
