KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 — Children who are physically disciplined at home are at risk of becoming bullies in school, according to a study by the National Human Rights Society (Hakam).
Published last month, the report by the human rights group — which interviewed several experts on bullying in Malaysian schools — said abuse or physical discipline may transfer itself to a child’s behaviour in how they treat their peers at school.
Cempaka Schools founder Datuk Frieda Pilus, one of the report’s contributing experts, said as parents are the first teacher-figures in a child’s life, it is critical for them to inculcate a sense of humility and empathy, rather than forceful arrogance or selfishness.
“Children model their behaviour from that of their parents and the ways they are raised. Hence the home environment is one of the main factors that can be responsible for bullying in schools,” she said.
Pilus encouraged parents to engage with Cempaka schools and to become part of the private school’s community, which can provide a support network for them to see how their children are progressing in a school environment.
“Parents are the primary actors in addressing bullying, followed by the significant role of teachers and schools. Instead of simply teaching the syllabus, teachers adopt the role of ‘school parents’.
“In so doing they teach their students on manners, life skills, team work and coping mechanisms, and the school functions as to train them of and for life,” she said.
This holistic approach by Cempaka Schools, combined with large amounts of extra-curricular activities including community and voluntary work, is key in demonstrating to students the importance of empathy and understanding the position of others.
“Empathy enables them to relate to the experiences of those who have been bullied, and thus reduces the likelihood of them continuing to bully others,” Pilus said.
Hakam said its study was confined to a segment of schools in the Klang Valley as it could not gain access to public schools, due to the time required to get permission.
Malaysia has been hit with several high-profile cases of bullying in schools that saw students physically harmed and even killed.
