Education Practice Area: Bullying & Duty of Care

The Education practice area in New Zealand focuses on the rights and responsibilities of schools, students, and parents. One important part of this area is about bullying and duty of care.

What is Bullying?

Bullying is when someone is hurtful to another person on purpose, repeatedly. This can happen in many ways, such as:

• Physical bullying, like hitting or pushing.
• Verbal bullying, such as name-calling or teasing.
• Social bullying, which involves excluding someone or spreading rumours.

What is Duty of Care?

Duty of care means that schools have a legal responsibility to keep students safe while they are at school. This includes protecting them from bullying. If a school knows about bullying and does not take action, they may be failing in their duty of care.

How Does This Work in New Zealand?

In New Zealand, schools must have policies to prevent and respond to bullying. For example, if a student is being bullied, the school should:

• Listen to the student and take their concerns seriously.
• Investigate the situation fairly and quickly.
• Provide support to the victim and take steps to stop the bullying.

What Can Parents Do?

Parents can play an important role in this process. If you think your child is being bullied, you should:

• Talk to your child and encourage them to share their feelings.
• Contact the school to discuss your concerns.
• Work with the school to find a solution.

Conclusion

Understanding bullying and duty of care is essential for creating a safe and supportive environment in schools. By working together, schools, parents, and students can help prevent bullying and ensure that every child feels safe and valued.