Effective Anti-Bullying Measures

EDM number 1073 in 2005-06, proposed by Dan Norris on 21/11/2005.

That this House notes bullying is the scourge of far too many young people's lives, that bullying is always wrong and that bullies have to change, and so applauds the tough anti-bullying measures outlined by the Government in the White Paper `Higher Standards, Better Schools for All', which urges schools to implement effective anti-bullying measures including sanctions for bullies and making bullies take responsibilitiy for their wrongdoings; endorses the view that schools should act decisively to send a clear message to the bully, parents and pupils that bullying behaviour will not be tolerated; recognises that the firm approach to bullying outlined in the White Paper signals the end of the trendy `No Blame' concept of not blaming bullies which has effectively been a `charter for bullies' and a disaster for countless victims; further notes that the huge majority of parents bring up their children to accept responsibility for their actions and that schools and local authorities which have misguidedly used and endorsed a `No Blame' approach have unwittingly been doing the opposite; congratulates the many thousands of schools across the country which already take an uncompromising line on bullying; and calls on schools and local authorities to recognise swiftly and act upon the White Paper in the interests of bullied victims, their families and the perpetrators of bullying.

This motion has been signed by a total of 57 MPs.