Linden Police confronts bullying

Bullying in schools has become a problem and the Linden Police will be tackling this issue school by school.

Captain Alex Vermaak from the Linden Police said that bullying is a problem, mostly at this time of the year with the Grade 7 and Grade 12 pupils about to leave school either for high school or tertiary institutions.Vermaak will be visiting some primary and high schools in the area to give talks on bullying and will also educate pupils on crime prevention strategies.

Reports of assaults in schools have been made as well as bad behaviour, cyber bullying and the distribution of child pornography, which has prompted schools to request an intervention from the police. “Pupils sending naked pictures of each other is classified as child pornography,” said Vermaak. He added that parents should monitor their children’s activities on social media.

Vermaak is urging parents to pay attention to their children and follow up with the school if they get reports that they are being bullied or even when they are just suspecting it. “Parents need to have a relationship with the schools and the teachers, and nab the bullying before it gets out of hand,” he said. Parents should also take it seriously when they get reports that their children are bullies. “This indicates that the child has an inability to deal with situations at home or at school,” added Vermaak. He said that parents should seek professional help for their children if they are bullying.

“Parents should take the responsibility for their children’s behaviour, not shift the blame to the schools. They should teach their children social harmony,” he concluded.

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