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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Pupils 'should penalise bullies' | Pupils 'should penalise bullies' |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| Pupils should be able to suggest suitable punishments for bullies in their school, according to an MPs' report into bullying. | Pupils should be able to suggest suitable punishments for bullies in their school, according to an MPs' report into bullying. |
| The Commons Education Select Committee also warned that children should not be excluded from school for retaliating against bullies. | The Commons Education Select Committee also warned that children should not be excluded from school for retaliating against bullies. |
| The report called for schools to record all bullying, including homophobic. | The report called for schools to record all bullying, including homophobic. |
| But the government said this would be too bureaucratic for head teachers - and would shortly issue new guidance. | But the government said this would be too bureaucratic for head teachers - and would shortly issue new guidance. |
| The report from MPs said that more research was needed into finding more effective ways to reduce bullying. | The report from MPs said that more research was needed into finding more effective ways to reduce bullying. |
| There had been "very little evidence" underpinning current guidance - and the lack of accurate, reliable data was a barrier to more effective work, the report said. | There had been "very little evidence" underpinning current guidance - and the lack of accurate, reliable data was a barrier to more effective work, the report said. |
| The Department for Education and Skills should require schools to record all incidents, said the report into bullying from the House of Commons Education Select Committee. | The Department for Education and Skills should require schools to record all incidents, said the report into bullying from the House of Commons Education Select Committee. |
| It added: "Unless specific kinds of bullying are explicitly included in anti-bullying policies, we believe there is a danger that they will not be adequately addressed." | It added: "Unless specific kinds of bullying are explicitly included in anti-bullying policies, we believe there is a danger that they will not be adequately addressed." |
| Cyber-bullying | Cyber-bullying |
| They should mention disability-related, race-related, faith-based and homophobic bullying. | They should mention disability-related, race-related, faith-based and homophobic bullying. |
| The idea that bullying is in some way character building and simply part of childhood is wrong Barry SheermanEducation select committee chairman And, because of the rise in cyber-bullying, mainly outside schools, policies should also be aimed at parents. | The idea that bullying is in some way character building and simply part of childhood is wrong Barry SheermanEducation select committee chairman And, because of the rise in cyber-bullying, mainly outside schools, policies should also be aimed at parents. |
| The committee called for pupils to be involved in setting punishments for children who are bullies, such as picking up litter or cleaning up around the school. | The committee called for pupils to be involved in setting punishments for children who are bullies, such as picking up litter or cleaning up around the school. |
| And the committee was concerned that pupils who had been bullied could themselves be punished or excluded because of retaliating. | And the committee was concerned that pupils who had been bullied could themselves be punished or excluded because of retaliating. |
| "We would expect previous bullying to be taken into account when deciding on appropriate disciplinary measures," the report urged. | "We would expect previous bullying to be taken into account when deciding on appropriate disciplinary measures," the report urged. |
| 'Bureaucratic' | 'Bureaucratic' |
| Committee chairman Barry Sheerman said: "The idea that bullying is in some way character building and simply part of childhood is wrong and should be challenged." | Committee chairman Barry Sheerman said: "The idea that bullying is in some way character building and simply part of childhood is wrong and should be challenged." |
| Schools Minister Jim Knight said teachers were about to get stronger legal powers against bullying. | |
| "We support a zero tolerance approach to bullying in schools and we welcome the committee's recognition of our work in this area," he said. | |
| "Next week teachers will get stronger legal powers. These will allow teachers to confiscate mobile phones which have been used to film bullying or text hurtful remarks." | |
| Teachers would also have clear powers on using force to break up fights or restrain violent pupils, he said. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Bullying has and always will be in schools, it's sadly in some peoples nature to single out the easy targets. James, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Bullying has and always will be in schools, it's sadly in some peoples nature to single out the easy targets. James, UK Send us your comments |
| The government has asked experts to identify schools with weak anti-bullying strategies and will be issuing updated guidance on homophobic and cyber bullying. | |
| But feedback from head teachers indicated that having to record every incident would be "a huge bureaucratic burden". | But feedback from head teachers indicated that having to record every incident would be "a huge bureaucratic burden". |
| The Association of School and College Leaders also rejected the MPs' proposal for separate complaints and appeals procedures. | The Association of School and College Leaders also rejected the MPs' proposal for separate complaints and appeals procedures. |
| "This is an unnecessary layer of red tape," said general secretary John Dunford. | "This is an unnecessary layer of red tape," said general secretary John Dunford. |
| But anti-bullying charity Beatbullying argued that for schools not to record each claim of bullying was akin to the police refusing to record the reporting of a crime. | But anti-bullying charity Beatbullying argued that for schools not to record each claim of bullying was akin to the police refusing to record the reporting of a crime. |
| Liberal Democrat committee member Stephen Williams MP said anti-bullying programmes had taken a back seat to political rhetoric about stamping down on discipline and raising standards. | Liberal Democrat committee member Stephen Williams MP said anti-bullying programmes had taken a back seat to political rhetoric about stamping down on discipline and raising standards. |
| Special needs | Special needs |
| Conservative spokesman Nick Gibb said: "Bullying is traumatic for children and its prevalence is a sign of poor behaviour and discipline within a school." | Conservative spokesman Nick Gibb said: "Bullying is traumatic for children and its prevalence is a sign of poor behaviour and discipline within a school." |
| The leader of the National Union of Teachers, Steve Sinnott, said the committee's finding on special educational needs bullying was "deeply disturbing". | The leader of the National Union of Teachers, Steve Sinnott, said the committee's finding on special educational needs bullying was "deeply disturbing". |
| "The inclusion of children with special educational needs in mainstream schools is being carried out without sufficient preparation and resources." | "The inclusion of children with special educational needs in mainstream schools is being carried out without sufficient preparation and resources." |
| Mencap and the National Autistic Society had told the MPs that children with SEN might not know when they were being bullied. | Mencap and the National Autistic Society had told the MPs that children with SEN might not know when they were being bullied. |
| This could range from being misled into inappropriate behaviour, to a child being told by another that he would be hit every day, so he believed that was the "rule". | This could range from being misled into inappropriate behaviour, to a child being told by another that he would be hit every day, so he believed that was the "rule". |
| Kidscape director Michele Elliott told the committee: "Teasing is very easy to describe. I can tease you and you can tease me and, if we are enjoying it, that is great. | Kidscape director Michele Elliott told the committee: "Teasing is very easy to describe. I can tease you and you can tease me and, if we are enjoying it, that is great. |
| "If it is causing pain, then that is bullying." | "If it is causing pain, then that is bullying." |