Teasing is real and it stinks

 With the festive season over and schools re-opening, there is a glaring problem that seems to have been normalised—bullying. Each year, parents and students talk about it, some even cautioning freshmen about the same and giving tips on coping mechanisms. It is a topic that is widely discussed and surprisingly, it happens yearly, especially in boarding institutions. Strangely, even management of the schools in question seems to subtly sanction the same because of lack of redress.

Sometimes when children complain about what is commonly known us teasing, they are reprimanded for being too sissy or soft. Parents believe likely situations are meant to toughen the children. And because they may have gone through the process themselves, whatever their wards claim hardly moves them into action. It has been normalised and many believe that nothing should really be done about it.

The few parents who dare to speak against bullying or for their teased children are often seen as pampering softies. It has become a silent pact for parents to ignore bullying reports on grounds that it will not last. After all, students are mostly bullied in the lower classes, especially Form One.

But have parents ever taken the time to understand what really goes on in some of these institutions? Is it the same bullying they experienced or we could have a different kind? Even if the trends are similar, it is right? Should we condone it?

I know of some students who were beaten by those in uppers classes at a boarding school and never reported the matter. Reporting to parents or school management sometimes worsens their plight as they may invite more trouble upon themselves. Some are sodomised and raped with objects. Fear paralyses them from reporting and by the time a matter is brought to light, damage may have been done. Some bullying includes doing dirty chores, soaking victims’ clothes in water, getting stripped, getting whipped, theft of groceries and pocket money.

Now tell me, who in their right mind has no problem with their children experiencing some of the above atrocities? Why should attaining an education come with barbaric treatment in the name of baptizing a newbie to an institution’s environment? Why is management, parents and students themselves accepting this and not putting an end to the same?

We should not, as always, wait for calamity to strike before taking action. Let’s be proactive in stopping these barbaric acts. It is criminal and should be condemned, regardless of how many generations have been put through the legalised atrocities. Learning institutions are not mad houses or boot camps that should subject others to ill-treatment. Systems are creating monsters through vicious cycles. Victimers clearly feel entitled and they groom successors. Soon, the victim becomes the aggressor and some may take their acquired trade to the industry after completing their studies. Stop this nonsense.