Bullying

[Bart]

Seems that it pays to be a bully.
"REVEALED: TAXPAYERS are set to pay a $4000-plus bill to send an alleged teenage bully on an overseas school trip.

The girl, 14, who cannot be named, is in DHS state care.

The girl was suspended from her school in Melbourne's outer suburbs at least three times last year for alleged acts of violence.

Her father is furious that DHS wants to reward her with a trip.

"They say she's good at language and should be rewarded, but we think she hasn't even got a stable home and surely that should be their priority," he said.

The father, who admits to a history of violence and who is challenging a DHS guardianship bid, said he refused to sign passport papers clearing the way for his daughter to visit Europe this year with her school.

"They (DHS) asked me and I said I think she has got other issues in her life to worry about rather than prancing around Europe."

The Herald Sun believes that, as her carers, DHS would pay for the trip provided the school did not oppose her participation.

In November, police arrested and questioned the girl over one of those incidents, in which she allegedly sent menacing text messages to a classmate.

A brief is being prepared and she faces serious criminal charges.

The father of the alleged bullying victim in that case says the girl harassed his daughter with text messages and Facebook posts, moving the school to suspend her for nearly a week.

In a series of text messages she allegedly called the girl a "bitch" and threatened to kill her.

The alleged victim told police: "I panicked because I have seen her do aggressive things before to other people - she has been in heaps of punch-ons at school so it worried me."

The school could not be contacted because of the holidays and the Education Department declined to comment, citing privacy laws.

A DHS spokesman said: "Children and young people are placed in the most suitable environment for their needs wherever possible and supported to lead a full and active life including education, sporting, and cultural activities like any other young Victorian."

DHS is under heavy scrutiny, with a major inquiry into child protection due to wrap up late this month and overworked child protection workers at loggerheads with the State Government over heavy caseloads.

In the European excursion case, the girl's father conceded he had a criminal history, but his convictions were history and he had cleared a police check."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-n ... 6242176670


May explain why some people on this board do what they do, perhaps they too are trying to earn that free trip overseas.

[Bart]

It was interesting to see also the tragic consequences of bullying with Sheniz.

"UPDATE 10.19am: BUBBLY schoolgirl Sheniz Erkan should have been celebrating her 15th birthday next week.

But her devastated family will bury the young teen tomorrow.

Sheniz took her life on Monday after becoming the latest victim of schoolyard and cyberspace bullies.

Her death has prompted an unprecedented outpouring of grief and anger on social media pages.

More than 14,000 people have already paid tribute to the Taylors Lakes Secondary College student on a Facebook memorial site, and dozens posted memorial videos on YouTube.

And an online campaign calling for an end to teen bullying has been launched in her honour.

But even her memory has been vandalised as the pages have been attacked by abusive bullies.

Yesterday, friends and family of the talented soccer star hit out at her tormentors, who they said pushed her too far.

Brother Aykut Erkan said that in the end, the ruthless and relentless harassment had become too much for his little sister to bear.

Half of Victorian school children aged 12 to 14 have experienced bullying, according to the Department of Education's most recent State of Victoria's Children report.

Former Family Court judge Alastair Nicholson has called for the outright, specific criminalisation of cyberbullying in serious cases.

A shattered Mr Erkan said Sheniz had been bullied at school and over the internet.

"I think it was going on a long time," he said.

"In her mind, in leaving us she might have thought she was taking the problem away from everyone.

"She never wanted to let anyone down and she never wanted to tell anyone about it because she didn't want anyone to worry.

"She was so loving, she would do anything for anybody. She was just so loved.

"She was so full of life, a real bundle of joy. No one remembers her in a bad way."

Mr Erkan said he had already bought his sister presents for her birthday and was looking forward to watching her play top-level soccer in the Women's Premier League.

He said it was even more hurtful that after his sister's death, she had been bullied from beyond the grave.

"People are still saying horrible things about her on Facebook. How can people be so low?"

Mr Erkan called on bullying victims to find their voice, and to not be scared to tell people that they were in trouble.

In one YouTube video, a friend said: "Some days when you'd see her all she did was smile. But others, all she did was cry."

Another friend wrote: "People are so heartless and I pray to God that people become a little bit wiser and stop bullying people whatsoever because nobody realises how much it could affect a person."

Alannah and Madeline Foundation chief executive Judith Slocombe said cyberbullying affected one in 10 Australian schoolchildren."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-n ... 6242170733



Bullying gets back to a reflection on the parent(s)!