[Jamie.]

Bullying at school can actually be good for children, an academic said yesterday. She said teachers should not protect pupils from playground spats as they can help them handle difficult events in the future.
Helene Guldberg, associate lecturer in child development at the Open University, says official fretting 'over the supposedly terrible dangers of bullying in the playground, can do more harm than good'.
It denies children 'the experiences they need to develop', such as being able to resolve their own disputes, as well as stunting their development and harming their social interaction with others.
But anti-bullying campaigners condemned her remarks, saying teachers need to be vigilant about the problem. Dr Guldberg made her controversial claims in an article for the online publication spiked, to promote her new book, Reclaiming Childhood: Freedom and Play in an Age of Fear.

Helene Guldberg, associate lecturer in child development at the Open University, says bullying can be good for children
She says bullying is a profound problem for just a small minority of children, and 'much that is defined as bullying today is not bullying at all'.
It is actually 'boisterous banter or everyday playground disputes that could – and should – be resolved without adult intervention'. Dr Guldberg says today's obsession with bullying is not good for children or teachers.
'Teachers are increasingly lumbered with the task of looking after children's health and wellbeing, rather than being allowed to get on with the task of educating them.
'Children are encouraged to assume their relationships with other children are damaging, and tacitly encouraged to look upon their peers with trepidation and suspicion.'
She adds: 'If we treat children as if they cannot possibly cope with hurtful experiences, then we will likely undermine their confidence and make them less likely to cope with difficult events in the future. 'In effect, we will prevent them from growing up.
Dr Guldberg cites an American sociologist, William Corsaro, who claims that arguments and teasing can 'help bring children together and help organise activities'.
Disputes and conflict can also add a 'creative tension' that increases the enjoyment of play.
But Richard Piggin, executive manager of the charity Beatbullying, insisted that the experience is never character-building. He said: 'When it is repetitive behaviour and there is clear power imbalance, it is bullying.
'If we do not intervene early to tackle bullying behaviour, including name-calling, rumour spreading and group exclusion, it can escalate into more problematic behaviours which are then harder to address.'
Sue Steel, national manager of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, said: 'Children who are being bullied often find it difficult to tell anyone. Teachers can help by maintaining an appropriate level of vigilance.'
Chris Cloke, head of child protection and diversity at the NSPCC, said: 'Calls about bullying form the largest category on ChildLine. Its impacts can be long lasting and deeply affect a child's happiness, esteem and performance at school.

'While teasing, arguments and overcoming differences are all natural, a line needs to be drawn between what is acceptable and what is not.
'A child should not be made to feel victimised, threatened or intimidated. In extreme circumstances, bullying can leave children emotionally scarred for years and may even push them to the brink of suicide.'

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NOTICE

I am writing an article for my Peer Mentor page, if you would, please comment on the above article, and include your full name and age.

Thanks

[Kate!]

Originally Posted by Jamie.

Bullying at school can actually be good for children, an academic said yesterday. She said teachers should not protect pupils from playground spats as they can help them handle difficult events in the future.
Helene Guldberg, associate lecturer in child development at the Open University, says official fretting 'over the supposedly terrible dangers of bullying in the playground, can do more harm than good'.
It denies children 'the experiences they need to develop', such as being able to resolve their own disputes, as well as stunting their development and harming their social interaction with others.
But anti-bullying campaigners condemned her remarks, saying teachers need to be vigilant about the problem. Dr Guldberg made her controversial claims in an article for the online publication spiked, to promote her new book, Reclaiming Childhood: Freedom and Play in an Age of Fear.

Helene Guldberg, associate lecturer in child development at the Open University, says bullying can be good for children
She says bullying is a profound problem for just a small minority of children, and 'much that is defined as bullying today is not bullying at all'.
It is actually 'boisterous banter or everyday playground disputes that could – and should – be resolved without adult intervention'. Dr Guldberg says today's obsession with bullying is not good for children or teachers.
'Teachers are increasingly lumbered with the task of looking after children's health and wellbeing, rather than being allowed to get on with the task of educating them.
'Children are encouraged to assume their relationships with other children are damaging, and tacitly encouraged to look upon their peers with trepidation and suspicion.'
She adds: 'If we treat children as if they cannot possibly cope with hurtful experiences, then we will likely undermine their confidence and make them less likely to cope with difficult events in the future. 'In effect, we will prevent them from growing up.
Dr Guldberg cites an American sociologist, William Corsaro, who claims that arguments and teasing can 'help bring children together and help organise activities'.
Disputes and conflict can also add a 'creative tension' that increases the enjoyment of play.
But Richard Piggin, executive manager of the charity Beatbullying, insisted that the experience is never character-building. He said: 'When it is repetitive behaviour and there is clear power imbalance, it is bullying.
'If we do not intervene early to tackle bullying behaviour, including name-calling, rumour spreading and group exclusion, it can escalate into more problematic behaviours which are then harder to address.'
Sue Steel, national manager of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, said: 'Children who are being bullied often find it difficult to tell anyone. Teachers can help by maintaining an appropriate level of vigilance.'
Chris Cloke, head of child protection and diversity at the NSPCC, said: 'Calls about bullying form the largest category on ChildLine. Its impacts can be long lasting and deeply affect a child's happiness, esteem and performance at school.

'While teasing, arguments and overcoming differences are all natural, a line needs to be drawn between what is acceptable and what is not.
'A child should not be made to feel victimised, threatened or intimidated. In extreme circumstances, bullying can leave children emotionally scarred for years and may even push them to the brink of suicide.'

----

NOTICE

I am writing an article for my Peer Mentor page, if you would, please comment on the above article, and include your full name and age.

Thanks

for me, this is the focal point of the article, which I found an interesting read and very relevant. Teachers do and should have a duty of care to assess when this line has been crossed and take action. This is why I believe having systems such as Peer Mentors in place in schools is a positive thing. The more these potential issues are supported, and awareness raised, the better.

[lostalex]

I agree, the bully kids arn't the problem, the parents of those bully kids are though.

there is nothing good about bullying, and suprise suprise the parents of the kids that bully are the ones actually abusing and bulying their own kids. The kids learn it from the home. The government needs to get tough on the bully kid's parents.

Most bully kids come from abusive homes. You will never find an abusive husband that didn't come from a home where his dad was abusing his mom. These kids learn from their parents. Abusive dads create sons that go on to become abusive husbands. Abused mom's create daughters that go on to become abused wives.

Children learn how to be adults from their parents. If you grow up in a house where it's okay for your dad to hit your mom, then that's exactly what you will grow up to be. Because you think it's normal,, you think it's okay.

There is absolutely no question that ASBO kids come from ASBO parents.

The state needs to step in and stop the cycle.

[Jamie.]

Guys, I'd love to put your comments in my article, but I can't without your full name, I need it to make it look professional

[Kate!]

with respect Jamie, people may not want their full name on here. I have seen plenty articles with comments from people tagged (for example) Kate from St Helens. Could you not just do that?

[Jamie.]

Alright, yeah no problem

[Indy]

I take issue with the notion that bullying is something that starts and ends on the playground. That may have been true 30 years ago, but one of the reasons it's become such a problem now is that it has transformed into a 24/7 passtime. Bullying may start in the classroom or on the playground, but it ends on social media, even if the victim doesn't have access to it. It's not a temporary skinned knee that will heal a week later, it's a permanent character assassination that can never be completely erased from the cloud.

The more technology children have, and the younger they acquire it, the further the line is pushed away from something that can simply be handled by kids on the playground. In most cases, they don't even realize the full implications of what they're doing.

[Beastie]

Bullying happens all the time. Even as adults. I have had more severe bullying when being a child/teenager though. You need to try and let it go over your head. Bugger off and just do your own thing. Wish I was more like this than spending hours feeling sorry for myself at 15 or whatever. I have noticed now when I stick up with adults they appear more stupid and know they are in the wrong. Whereas when you are younger you think you are always right and go on and on and on.

[rayheartbliss]

Originally Posted by Indy

I take issue with the notion that bullying is something that starts and ends on the playground. That may have been true 30 years ago, but one of the reasons it's become such a problem now is that it has transformed into a 24/7 passtime. Bullying may start in the classroom or on the playground, but it ends on social media, even if the victim doesn't have access to it. It's not a temporary skinned knee that will heal a week later, it's a permanent character assassination that can never be completely erased from the cloud.

The more technology children have, and the younger they acquire it, the further the line is pushed away from something that can simply be handled by kids on the playground. In most cases, they don't even realize the full implications of what they're doing.

this

[Kizzy]

I think that sometimes teachers and parents can get involved too soon in some cases, as soon as there is the hint of a problem which does not help kids develop the tools needed to resolve conflicts with peers.
Going to high school is like being in BB in a way theres a lot of jostling for position and the formation of a pecking order, I and other parents got involved in an issue at school which in hindsight was silly as we all fell out and the kids made up...Like they do most of the time.

[lostalex]

there are a lot of lazy teachers out there. if teachers did their jobs properly then it wouldn't get to the point of bullying.

[Mystic Mock]

But some bullies are quite vile and they should be punished for there bad behaviour, especially when they can't be reasoned with aswell.