Why do people bully and why do individuals put up with it?
In the 'Private Eye' segment of the young people's televisio series 'Echo Island', reporters Laura Freer and Kim Bates from St Michael's National School, Ballyfermot investigate bullying. During the report, some of their classmates dramatise examples of bullying behaviour.
Laura Freer interviews some of her peers who have experienced bullying. She asks why they think people become bullies,
Because they're cowards really and they just want attention.
Another classmate offers advice for people who are being bullied.
It’s better to tell someone than to just leave it and get bullied again.
Laura Freer and Kim Bates agree that telling a teacher or a parent is the best way to tackle bullying. Their teacher explains what happens when she receives a complaint of bullying. Supporting the bullied child is important so they can,
Feel safe going to school.
In addition, steps are taken to find the cause of the bullying behaviour so it can be stopped.
This episode of 'Echo Island' was broadcast on 7 February 1995. The presenters are Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh and Derek Mooney.
'Echo Island’ was broadcast on RTÉ Network 2 as part of 'The Den’. It first aired in September 1994 and concluded in June 1999. The presenters included Dara Ó Briain, Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, Alan Hughes, Derek Mooney, Mary Kingston and Carrie Crowley.
