Our View: Bullies must not be tolerated

The case of an Otumoetai College student being bullied on Facebook is the latest in a sad string of cases where technology is used to torment people.
The Facebook page, which appears to have been set up by another student, initially had support from other students but was taken down on Saturday night after causing an internet uproar. The bullied boy's mother has thanked online supporters and says, thankfully, her son did not see the page.
But this case should be ringing alarm bells at Otumoetai College and in the wider community.
Cyber and text bullying has spread its ugly tentacles through many communities over the past few years and unfortunately been linked with crime and deaths.
Bay of Plenty 15-year-old Hayley-Ann Fenton took her own life last year after an older man with whom she'd had a relationship broke up with her and she received threatening text messages from his wife.
Bowentown woman Heather Powell's teenage son took his own life last year after receiving what she says were bullying texts.
At end of last year it was reported that Vodafone gets 6000 calls a year about text bullying.
Bullying, unfortunately, is nothing new. It has been happening in schoolyards for generations. But the internet and cellphones have taken it to a new, terrifying level.
It means bullies can reach their victims any time and potentially have a much wider audience.
Just over a year ago, a top Tauranga child psychotherapist has warned that children under the age of 15 should not be allowed to use social networking sites such as Facebook without parental supervision because these sites put them at risk.
The problem and part of the solution to bullying lies with adults.
Bullying occurs among adults and in workplaces and it is no wonder it occurs among children.
Adults need to take the lead in setting the example and stamping it out. Education is vital and all children need to know that if they are bullied they must tell someone.
Bullies are usually weak, pathetic people who enjoy lashing out.
In all cases, bullies must not be tolerated and a firm response is always needed.
In this latest case, Otumoetai principal Dave Randell says incidents such as this one occur out of school time yet spill over into school life.
This is a school issue because the school is the common denominator and has been put in the spotlight.
Rightly or wrongly, schools have a leadership role to play in communities and a wider responsibility than just teaching students.
The student who set up this Facebook page and others who supported it have brought this school into disrepute and tough action is called for.
Other students need to make clear the actions were wrong and hurtful.
The student's parents need to take responsibility and a punishment dished out that is fitting.
The response must deter other students from doing the same thing.