Teens act to stamp out school bullying

Howick College student Brandon Luangrath says bullying made him feel alienated and alone. Photo / Dean Purcell

Students at a college where a third of kids reported being bullied in just one year say ignoring the perpetrators doesn't work, and it's time to come up with a better plan.

Pupils at Howick College held a school-wide survey last year as part of a student-led initiative called The Big Stand, which aims to address bullying, violence and peer pressure.

Out of the 1300 teenagers who took the survey, a third reported being bullied. Half said they wouldn't go to a staff member about bullying for reasons including "I can handle it myself", while three-quarters said they believed bullying was hidden from teachers.

While most ignored bullying or "walked away", six per cent of students said they decided to stay home from school rather than confront the offenders.

Big Stand committee member Toni Wharehoka, 16, said one of the most surprising findings was the effect bullying had on bystanders. Asked for how they felt when seeing others bullied, almost half of students said they felt upset and helpless, while a third said it was hard to concentrate.

"It was affecting their learning," Ms Wharehoka said. "So now we want to focus on the bystanders too."

The study said that those who witnessed bullying were most likely to ignore what happened, watch, or check the victim afterwards. Just 22 per cent intervened. Students said they just "didn't want to get involved" or that it wasn't their business.

The Big Stand committee told assemblies on Friday, where they announced the results of the survey, that they had been focussing too much on perpetrators and victims.

"We need to develop new ways of dealing with bullying," Ms Wharehoka said.- "These results show you can't just ignore it. What we are being taught isn't working."

Fellow Big Stand member Charlie Schwalger, 16, said he was also surprised at the amount of racial bullying.

"I thought we had dealt with racism by now. How can it keep happening in a multicultural society like New Zealand."

The next step for the initiative is to come up with options of what to do, and take a vote on one to implement this year.

The Big Stand, an award-winning programme developed at Howick College, is now in its fifth year.

Taking a stand

Brandon Luangrath told his bullying story in front of five huge crowds this week.

The 14-year-old decided to speak up to ensure his peers knew the effects words could have - so chose to be the face of Howick College's bullying programme, The Big Stand.

"People would pick on me because my voice was high and I had lots of female friends, because I'm just being me," he said.

"Gay boy they called me. Faggot. I was alienated and I felt alone."

"I didn't come to school because I didn't want to confront them. My thoughts were dark."

However, he says, this year he learned there were "some small minded people" in the world and instead had decided to take a stand.

"We should all feel confident in our own skin. You should be able to be you. If anyone tells you you're different, they're wrong."

Bullying survey

• Students said they would stay away from school if bullying got really bad.

• Half of students said they wouldn't go to a staff member. One student said bullies didn't listen to teachers.

• Others were worried about being labelled a snitch. "I feel like if I report it the bully might want revenge," one student said.

• Social bullying - for example when friends stop talking to a member of a group - was also common.

• Watching bullying had a strong effect on students' wellbeing. They were upset, felt helpless and couldn't concentrate.