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Last Updated: Wednesday, 3 September, 2003, 05:49 GMT 06:49 UK
Cracking down on school bullying
Bullying initiative
Despite many initiatives, bullying is still a huge problem in schools
The government is announcing a new initiative to combat bullying in schools today

Until now the onus has been on teachers - but what if pupils took an active role in tackling bullying?

  • Breakfast talked to one young man about how bullying has affected his life - and we spoke to an American professor, who's pioneering a new approach to an old problem

  • Professor Jerome Freiberg is in the United Kingdom - visiting from the US is helping schools deal with increasing levels of violence and indiscipline.

    Children learn bullying behaviour, he believes, and need help to "unlearn" it.

    They may learn how to bully from what happens to them at home - or from TV programmes, videos and computer games.

    To avoid problems in schools, he believes that children as young as fourshould be taught about communication and respect for each other

    Dafydd Jones on BBC Breakfast
    Dafydd became bulimic after being bullied at school

  • We also spoke to Dafydd Jones who is setting up a website to help children who are being bullied, after experiencing years of bullying himself.

    "The five years I was bullied at school were the worst years of my life," Dafydd told us.

    Believing he was being bullied for being overweight, Dafydd became bulimic. He's now 6'7" tall.

    "It's really hard to tell teachers at school if you're being bullied.

    "You think they are there to teach you, not to be your friend or support," he explained.

    Dafydd would like to see more trained counsellors in school, to help tackle bullying and intimidation.

    He's in the process of setting up a website and hopes to have services like chatrooms up and running by January.

  • Have you experienced bullying at school? And if so, how did you deal with it? Tell us your story

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  • WATCH AND LISTEN
    Tackling bullying
    The BBC's Sophie Hutchinson reporting


    Bullying
    Dafydd Jones was bullied for five years at school


    Bullying: the American answer
    Professor Jerome Freiberg



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