On Thursday morning, a 16-year-old Adelaide girl went to school as normal. She likely had her backpack and her school uniform and was carrying the books she needed.
But, when she arrived at Trinity College North in Evanston South, this teenager had different intentions. Hidden in her bag there was also a knife, which she used – allegedly – to stab a fellow student in the stomach, arm and leg.
A 15-year-old girl was taken to hospital with minor injuries, AAP reports.
And the 16-year-old has been charged with aggravated assault causing harm, and is expected to face court next month.
School principal Nick Hately said the altercation between the two year 10 girls led to the alleged stabbing.
“Acts of violence are incredibly rare so this incident is very confronting for our community,” he said in a letter to parents.
This comes three days after 13-year-old schoolgirl Libby Bell took her own life after being bullied in person and online, also in Adelaide.
Her family claims she suffered years of cyber bullying through Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, as well as physical abuse in the schoolyard, News Corp reports.
“Those that bullied you, and your so-called friends that didn’t speak up, they failed you gorgeous girl and we won’t stop fighting for you until they are held accountable,” mother Crystal Bell posted to Facebook.
The two heartbreaking stories are a reflection of something bigger: a bullying problem in Australian schools so severe, it's leading to violence. And so difficult to manage, because it's being played out largely on social media.
In a bid to take action, Australian Conservatives state MP Dennis Hood says he will work to introduce bullying-specific legislation in South Australia to make it easier to crackdown on long term harassment.
Mr Hood says that the proposed legislation will be modelled on laws introduced in Victoria in 2011 which makes serious bullying a crime punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.
"Since Brodie's Law was introduced in Victoria, almost 60 people have been charged with bullying, which is proof of its effectiveness," Mr Hood said.
Mr Hood said according to survey figures by the South Australian education department, around 5,000 students a week are bullied in SA schools.
Readers seeking support are urged to contact Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
To read about a popular app that's turned into a bullying platform, click here.
To read about Ian Thorpe's experience with bullying, click here.
To read about the Safe Schools program, click here.
LISTEN: Do parents have to crack down on teens?
Top Comments
Workplaces and universities have accepatable use social media policies, why dont schools? Hold these kids to account and start it young, because once theyre out in the real world they are beholden to these policies theough workplaces etc.... rhere has to be a consequence for being an asshole!
I know it is unrealistic, but if all social media (including mobile phones) was banned for under 18s, the rates of bullying would drop dramatically.
Unrealistic but true
but how would that be policed. as it is it doesnt allow under 13s but under 13s just put a fake age/year of birth and theyre in. what would stop under 18s if they cant stop under 13s ?
Let's say for argument sake, that what you purpose could be done. and ALL persons under 18 could be totally banned from such devices, with absolutely no way around the ban. The bulling would still continue. it would go back to the bulling of the era before the computer, cell phone or the lap top. in other words back to the early 80's & further back. it would be done over the house phone, notes passed around in classrooms, verbally at school or on busses. in other word, it would continue.
what it's going to take is the old passage: "It takes a village to raise a child".
Meaning: Parents, Teachers, Cooks & Janitors at the school, Any school faculty member, Law enforcement, fire fighters, or any body that sees a child bulling another child, Speak Up. say something to the bully, give comfort to the one being bullied, then take the bully home, let the bullies parents know what you saw. And if you are the parent of a child that is a bully, Put a stop to it. If someone brings your child home and tells you what they saw, don't live in denial, look into it. And if your child was being a bully, again put a stop to it. That's how to solve it.
My daughter was the target of a bully when she was in about the 6th or 7th grade. She came home crying, All upset. Another girl had called her a B*I*T*C*H all day long, (excuse me for the word I put there, but that was the actual word and it is important for the rest of the story). Being new to hormonal young girls, I wasn't sure what I was suppose to do under this situation. It was not like the kiss the scratch on my knee daddy and make it feel better type of thing she had when she was 5 yrs old. So, I went to my computer and thought. This is what I came up with. I made her a poster to put up in her room. her is what it said.
Beautiful
Intelligent
Talented
Cute
Hottie
It had butterflies and other pictures all around.
And I told her Butterfly "which is what I always call my daughter" any time that girl stoops so low to call you that word. I want you to bounce right up and say, Yes, I know I am a Beautiful, Intelligent, Talented, Cute, Hottie. And leave her standing there with a puzzled look on her face.
just so happened the very next, the girl tried to start in on Butterfly again. Well Butterfly only had to say what I told her to say twice. The first time the girls were alone. The second time there was about 8 girls around them. And one of them pointed out to the girl that Butterfly politely burned her with her on words. After that, the girl didn't bother Butterfly any more. in fact, by the end of 8th grade they were friends.