Nail the bullies with the law

The parliamentary portfolio committee on basic education had an excursion to Milnerton High School.

- RICHARD CHEMALY

That would be the natural thing to do following the light shining on the bullying incidents there, though I'd lament that we live in a world where an anti-bullying policy is required.

I just don't understand what one would put into such a policy that wasn't already catered for in the legislation parliament already enacts.

In other words, was this parliament admitting its own shortcomings? Is bullying not something that is catered for in various aspects of our legislation and even common law? Other than "obey the law", what substantial elements would a policy even add?

It's almost surreal that you're dealing with kids charged with serious crimes, but there appears to be a sense of, well if there was an anti-bullying policy, this would not have happened. The kids aren't alright and if we want to fix that, a 20-pager is hardly going to do the trick.