A Government demand for all school trustees to review anti-bullying policies is "a stick" schools do not need across their backs, says a Masterton principal.
Lakeview School principal Ed Hodgkinson, who is also chairman of the Masterton principals cluster, was speaking after reports Prime Minister John Key had directed Education Minister
Anne Tolley to write a reminder letter to boards about their responsibilities to provide a safe environment for pupils.
Mr Key, who announced the move after videos surfaced in the media of bullying incidents in Sydney and Wanganui, had also told the minister to call a meeting of experts to gauge how well New Zealand schools are countering bullies.
Mr Hodgkinson said the Masterton principals cluster last met at the beginning of the month and are yet to discuss bullying despite a group focus several times last year on what is "a problem faced by every school".
He said there is a legal "and natural" obligation for teachers, principals and trustees to create and keep environments safe for pupils and that "consistency of practice" and wider support is most vital even though practices may vary between schools.
"I see the Government call for a review of policies to be a measure that is not in any way helpful and a stick that schools can do without. We already have some assistance but what we need is more of the right support, not more of a stick."
Mr Hodgkinson said no matter the policies in place at any given school, the application of anti-bullying strategies must be even-handed and effective.
"Bullying is not just happening in schools. There is workplace bullying and at times the school bully could be acting out behaviour he sees at home.
"And we don't need to be alarmist when most students consider their schools to be absolutely safe environments. The truth is a lot of students would rather be at school, where there is routine, and friends, than on holiday."
A spokesman for the New Zealand School Trustees Association said no calls had been yet fielded from boards seeking help with their anti-bullying policies and any divergence from school to school would probably be in "processes not policies".
He said technology has played a part in bullying for some boards that have called for help, and organisations seeking aid are referred to NetSafe group for more precise support. "In those cases the victims need support outside the five or six hours in the class. Text messages, Facebook and the like follows them home and must be dealt with there as well."
