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"Parents of bullies should be held accountable too!"

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Following an incident of bullying at a Cape high school, Parent24 readers respond to the article Teen bullied for allegedly not paying "protection money" at top school.

"The parents should be held accountable"

Chandré Kühn says: "I have witnessed for myself the bullying in schools, despite the efforts and campaigns of these schools to bring the issue under the spotlight, and educate its learners on the effects against the victim.

"However, it is not the school's responsibility to teach their students basic ethics and decency. That needs to be taught at home. And many times, bullies themselves are victims at home and then bring this behaviour to school.

"The rest of his/her friends then just follow the lead because children are naturally gullible and easy to lead. So to me, while we make examples of these bullies, the PARENTS of these children should be held accountable as well.

"But instead the school gets the backlash simply because it happens on their premises. Attacking the action will never ever solve the problem - fix the source!"

"The school is there to teach, not to raise kids"

Christo Bornman says: "The school is an institution to learn and teach kids academic work, not to raise them. I think parents must teach their kids how to respect one another and the school should suspend all involved until all parents have met in their own time and given the school assurances that it will not happen again, as we don't pay schools to solve issues that have nothing to do with school.

"They must teach our kids, as that is what get paid for. We all have different beliefs and the school might not raise my child as I want them to. So, it's simple - suspend all kids involved and let the parents feel how the school principal feels when he finds out his kids are not angels."

"Give a heavy fine, suspend or expel"

Wayne van de Werken says: "Kids should pay a heavy fine, given a suspended sentence or even expelled. There is absolutely no way this should be swept under the carpet."

"The school must be forced to do the right thing"

Wolfe says: "If the school has a bullying policy, the parent must insist that it be followed through to suspensions and expulsion. If no policy exists she must insist the Education Department make the school create one.

"The school board must be publicly named and if no action is taken against the boys the board must resign. Assault charges must be pursued. Maximum transparency and publicity must be obtained to force the school to do the right thing. There is no more room for quiet solutions."

What do you think? Should all learners involved, their parents and school authorities meet to solve the problem? Should a mediator be included? Should the kids by suspended? Share your opinion by emailing chatback@parent24.com.

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