THE grandmother of a bullied teenager is again speaking out about the way Tasmanian schools manage bullying, on the eve of the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence. Juanita Simpson wants state schools to have uniform policy to manage bullying, and for all schools to take greater actions against bullies. She has enlisted the help of anti-bullying organisation Angels' Hope, which is working with the Greens, to roll out an e-petition against bullying. "What I have seen is the victim being sent away from the school and the bully being allowed to stay at the school, which is wrong," she said. Angel's Hope employee Mikayla Sward, 18, said she was the victim of bullying - from primary school through to college - and felt that more could've been done to help her. Ms Sward said the National Day of Action was a great way to raise awareness of bullying, and to prevent other kids from enduring hell. "In primary school I was known as the freak that no one wanted to be friends with, and right through high school I was teased because I was different," she said. "I went through quite a few meetings with principals and teachers and such, they said it would stop but it never really did. "I know a few of the [bullies] were suspended." Ms Sward said the bullying impacted on her school and family life, and led to mental health issues. She has been on anti-depressants since she was in year 10. "Surprisingly my school work was the thing that let me block everyone out and keep going. It was my escape," she said.
THE grandmother of a bullied teenager is again speaking out about the way Tasmanian schools manage bullying, on the eve of the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence.
Juanita Simpson wants state schools to have uniform policy to manage bullying, and for all schools to take greater actions against bullies.
She has enlisted the help of anti-bullying organisation Angels' Hope, which is working with the Greens, to roll out an e-petition against bullying.
THE grandmother of a bullied teenager is again speaking out about the way Tasmanian schools manage bullying, on the eve of the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence.
"What I have seen is the victim being sent away from the school and the bully being allowed to stay at the school, which is wrong," she said.
Angel's Hope employee Mikayla Sward, 18, said she was the victim of bullying - from primary school through to college - and felt that more could've been done to help her.
Ms Sward said the National Day of Action was a great way to raise awareness of bullying, and to prevent other kids from enduring hell.
"In primary school I was known as the freak that no one wanted to be friends with, and right through high school I was teased because I was different," she said.
"I went through quite a few meetings with principals and teachers and such, they said it would stop but it never really did.
"I know a few of the [bullies] were suspended."
Ms Sward said the bullying impacted on her school and family life, and led to mental health issues.
She has been on anti-depressants since she was in year 10.
"Surprisingly my school work was the thing that let me block everyone out and keep going. It was my escape," she said.
