A BALLARAT student has made an impassioned plea to the media for help to raise awareness about bullying at school.
Ruby, a year 9 student, who did not want her real name published for fear of reprisal from her tormentors, wrote a letter to The Courier asking us to bring the issue of schoolyard bullying to the fore.
“I really need your help. We all do. I don’t know what it will take to stop bullying, but whatever it is I am prepared to do it,” Ruby wrote in her email. “That’s why I am asking for your help. Please, please help me ... please help us. I can’t do it alone.”
On almost a daily basis since year 7, Ruby has been verbally abused by a group of her year 9 peers, who call her names like ugly, fat and dumb.
Derogatory comments about her have also been written on the school toilet doors and walls. Not wanting to show the teasing has affected her, Ruby’s answer to these taunts is “thanks” and she walks away.
She suppresses her emotions until she reaches the safety of her home, where she breaks down, often crying herself to sleep.
“I let it all out when I get home. If I cry for a while I feel a lot happier after,” she said.
“But walking away and trying not to retaliate doesn’t seem to deter these bullies,” the brave student said.
“I have been bullied for over half my life and I am over it. I hate myself, I hate my body and I hate my personality, because some of the things people say to me and to others really hurt.”
The constant abuse has resulted in Ruby suffering from anxiety attacks. She attends the school sick bay until the attacks subside.
Her school has been informed about the abuse, but Ruby and her mother claim nothing has been done to stamp out the bullying.
“The kids in question have been told to stop it, but that just makes things worse ... I’m then known as a dobber,” Ruby said.
“These kids ... need help. I feel sorry for them if they have to make others feel bad for them to feel good about themselves.”
While Ruby has a very supportive family at home, she has few friends at school because she claims they, too, are bullied for having a relationship with her. She and her small circle of friends sit at the front of the school to avoid their bullies as much as possible.
She is contemplating leaving secondary school to undertake TAFE courses in an effort to get into nursing.
Ruby’s mother is very concerned about her welfare, but is angry that nothing constructive has been done by the school to alleviate the problem.
“While the staff sound sympathetic and say they’ll keep an eye on the problem, nothing is really done,” her
mother said. “This is extremely frustrating as a parent.”
A Department of Education spokesman said authorities were aware of the bullying culture at schools and its potential impact. Each school, he said, had its own anti-bullying policy which followed a framework set out by the department.
“With the digital age and bullying happening outside of school on mobile phones and social networks, this is very hard to police. The department is aware of the complexities of the issue and take it very seriously,” the spokesman said.
“However, the key thing is that schools can’t work alone on this issue. There must be a partnership between the school, home and the whole community to work hard towards an outcome.”
Email a friend