Most schools nowadays for the sake of it will claim a "Zero Tolerance" policy on bullying. I've found that in my own experience the so called 'policy' is complete tripe. From both the perspective of an ex-pupil and ex-member of staff I can certainly say that the 'policy' only worked on the less popular characters whilst other characters from the 'upper' class backgrounds had immunity. There certainly is a non-equality issue here.
I even heard recently from a friend that the headteacher of their sons school refuses to acknowledge the word "bullying", I mean that's not just denial but just plain fucked up beyond belief. If it's a PC thing on top of that it would explain a lot.
Of course if you were also a sports player you also to a degree had the teachers in your back pocket (attached by the lips and everything). I hated Jocks! If you were not interested in football, they'd bully you and consider you weird. Jocks got away with everything…
That was me, the artist, the geek, the lower class Brentry lad who didn't like sports, the struggling underdog, a fat boy and one of the smallest kids in my year if not the whole school (late bloomer I was!).
I was never perfect as a pupil, I was a prick & a half at times but I was never one of those from the 'popular' side of the radar who got away with murder. The schooling system failed me and fucked me royally, its people only cared about shouting at me rather than helping me. I wanted to learn but all my input seemed mount to was adults shouting in my face and sometimes making me cry, a serious of abuse that I blame my occasional bouts of social shyness on.
I was physically assaulted on two occasions by two different teachers and guess what? The school did nothing to chase either incident up. A year later another kid was hit by a teacher with a pair of scissors whereupon the army might as well had been called in because the police took no time to come along and give that said teacher the telling off of a lifetime.
A couple of the teachers did care when they could, one of them was my form tutor and sadly died of cancer and the other who helped me through a suicidal/self harming phase has likely retired. I thought I'd mention that to outbalance this negative paragraph
I've often wondered if disgruntled ex-pupils like me would ever be compensated for psychological damage and lack of positive input. Of course the schooling system would twist and bend the story to save their hides. 16 years later I don't think I have the means to back my case even though it is good enough. And 16 years later, would anyone care? Claiming damages from a school for poor help and growth would be a bandwagon that most people who hated school would jump on, thus overshadowing the genuine cases (like me).
However one good thing the school did was wipe clean my record at the end of year 11 of all crimes I committed during the last half a decade. It made me wonder if the same went for others too.
I remember another incident during my LSA days where two brothers were caught buying and selling firecrackers on a school trip. Now usually the average Joe would be suspended indefinitely and given the bollocking of a lifetime, instead these two upper-class individuals were given the day off to attend a cricket match. There's justice for you. Months later, a kid in the same class as the two brothers was given a fortnight internal suspension for doing a similar deal with a cap gun. Well…
I took up the job as an LSA to return to the schooling system and give to it what was never given to me. I was never biased towards anyone, and the odd elitist did not like my approach towards the 'unlikable' but I thought they could go piss up a rope for all I care. I did not like the snobs and toffs (and since I worked in Bath there was a lot of them) and their upper class attitude that was made known in the slyest ways possible.
I liked representing the unpopular and liked making them feel valued even more. I was the Happy Gilmore of the education system – Mr Flatt – "a fucking legend!" one kid called me. In truth, I never hated school but more the oppressive system behind it. I am glad I did that job for 5 years despite one spiteful individual trying to make things difficult. I rose above that and made an impact anyway. Up yours Hurd!
Anyway, School should be made the most of whenever possible even if the system is corrupt and screwed up. School is where a person's first solid friendships are formed even if they likely move on in life and so forth. School would be more enjoyed better if there was good policies that are real. I just hope bullying will one day be properly dealt with rather than be all talk and turning a blind eye whenever 'upper class Jimmy' acts the fool.
Zero Tolerance policy indeed. The small print however most likely says "Only towards the lower class and unpopular kids we favour the less". Give me a break! Sort it out now!