Angus Council has warned it takes a zero tolerance approach to the cyber bullies who make pupils’ and teachers’ lives a misery.
The Courier can reveal that 32 incidents of online bullying were investigated in the county’s schools last year the first year Angus Council has kept a record of cyber-bullying incidents.
There were 10 incidents in primaries and 22 in secondaries.
Arbroath councillor Donald Morrison, a member of Angus Council’s education committee, said the figures show the local authority must continue their efforts in tackling bullying.
The figures for last term were released following a Freedom of Information request. Figures for this year are just coming in from schools and are in the process of being collated.
A council spokesman said, “Angus Council has a zero tolerance policy towards all bullying behaviour in its schools, providing clear guidance and advice to schools on dealing with bullying incidents.
“All of our schools are required to involve and consult the school community in order to devise, publicise and implement their own school anti-bullying policy.
“We have ongoing staff development opportunities on themes around bullying and cyber bullying is a key element of this work.
“If cyber bullying is reported the matters are investigated, resolved and individuals are supported. We treat all bullying very seriously.”
Like other types of bullying, cyber bullying can have fatal consequences. People have murdered or committed suicide after being cyber bullied.
“Cyber bullying through social network sites is a worrying national problem and Angus schools are required to collect the number of reported incidents,” Mr Morrison said.
“Any type of bullying be it cyber, verbal or physical, must be taken seriously because it causes so much suffering for victims, who can often feel isolated even from their own friends and family because, despite more support in place, there remains a stigma surrounding reporting incidents.
“With the first year figures now collated, 32 reported incidents at Angus schools in 2009/2010 is still 32 too many and show that Angus Council must continue their efforts in tackling bullying.”
Family Lives, a national parenting and family support charity, is calling for a stronger partnership between parents, pupils and teachers to tackle cyber bullying.
The call is a result of an increase in concerned parents contacting the charity through its Parentline and its Bullying UK website.Social networkingIn an online survey Bullying UK found that 43.5% of respondents aged 11-16 had been bullied via Facebook, Bebo, Myspace, Twitter 51% felt that blocking the bully from further contact or communication was a vital tool and a further 68% felt being able to report the bully’s activities would be advantageous.
Family Lives chief executive Jeremy Todd said, “Cyber bullying is a real concern to families and parents of bullied children often find the situation traumatic and difficult to manage.
“Family Lives has noticed an increase in emails and calls from concerned parents, families and supporters.
“Cyber bullying platforms ensure that children who are bullied have no respite as online and other social media permeates the school and home environment.
“Bullying in schools is a real concern to families and parents of bullied children often find the situation traumatic and difficult to manage. Some families may find it difficult to report cyber bullying to the school concerned and parents should contact Family Lives, or visit www.bullyinguk.co.uk if they need support.”
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has called on Facebook and other social networking websites to react more quickly to complaints of abuse. Facebook say they encourage people to use reporting tools when they encounter offensive content.