Education officials rethink suspending bullies from schools

The Mainichi Shimbun
December 4, 2006
Source: http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20061204p2a00m0na009000c.html

Officials at local governments have raised questions about invoking education regulations to suspend bullies from schools despite the urging of the central government to do so.

Clauses on the suspension of students from schools for wrongdoing in almost all prefectural governments, except Okinawa and Saitama, have been virtually a dead letter, ministry officials have pointed out.

As to the reasons for not invoking such clauses, education officials at numerous prefectural governments said there was no bullying at schools under their jurisdiction that would justify such punishment.

However, many of them, who asked not to be identified, questioned the effectiveness of such punitive measures.

"I wonder whether expelling bullies from school is effective," a high-ranking official of the Oita Prefectural Board of Education said.

"I can't openly say this, but ordering bullies to stay home raises problems because their parents are also at fault in many cases," said a senior official of the Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education.

An official in Wakayama Prefecture pointed to the difficulties suspending elementary and junior high school children because such schools are part of Japan's compulsory education system.

An education official in Yamagata Prefecture pointed out that not only those who bully schoolmates and those who are bullied but also those who fan the bullying and those who overlook such actions are involved in schoolyard bullying. "It's difficult to determine the scope of children involved that would be subject to punitive measures."

An official in Yamaguchi Prefecture pointed to the difficulties identifying those who bully schoolmates. "It's common that those who bully schoolmates are being bullied themselves. It's also difficult to identify bullies. If a student is ignored by all of their classmates, it's impossible to suspend all of them from school."

A Toyama Prefectural Board of Education official said it is difficult to persuade the parents of bullies to accept such punitive measures.

In an emergency proposal last Wednesday, the government's Education Rebuilding Council stopped short of calling for the suspension of bullies from school, but instead recommended such students participate in community service activities or take lessons separate from classes.

Nevertheless, a senior official at the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry urged schools to suspend children involved in schoolyard bullying from school if necessary.

"I don't think we've proposed something that is ineffective. I know it's tough for teachers to tell bullies, 'Don't come to school,' in the case of compulsory education. However, if other students are bullied, schools must invoke regulations to suspend bullies from school," said Yasumasa Kioka, a senior official of the ministry. (Mainichi)

December 4, 2006

Schools reluctant to suspend students for bullying

The Yomiuri Shimbun
November 30, 2006
Source: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20061130TDY03005.htm

Public primary and middle schools have often been hesitant to suspend bullies, even though such a step is a legal measure to stop children from seriously abusing others.

Of the 464 cases of student suspension recorded at middle schools since fiscal 1996, only 24 cases have involved bullying.

An emergency proposal released Wednesday by the Education Rebuilding Council calls for teachers to take firm action against bullies. However, in the past, schools have complained that the criteria for suspension were vague, thus making it difficult for them to take action.

Although public primary and middle schools cannot expel students under the School Education Law, municipal education boards have the power to suspend those who have--according to the schools--repeatedly abused other children either physically or mentally.

However, the number of students being suspended has dropped every year since fiscal 1985, when 137 cases were recorded. Over the past several years the number has hovered between 20 and 50.

During the last 10 years, there were six years during which there were no bullying-related suspensions at middle schools.

Of the 42 suspensions issued last fiscal year in public middle schools, 29 involved violence against teachers and other classmates, while seven involved bullying.

In 1998, the Central Council for Education released a report encouraging principals to use suspension as a punishment. A similar proposal was issued in 2000 by the National Commission on Education Reform.

In 2001, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry issued a notice that categorized bullies as being subject to suspension. However, the measure has not been applied significantly.

"Bullying often takes place when teachers are out of sight, so even if victims claim they have been bullied, it's difficult to prove the reason for suspension to offenders' guardians," a Tokyo middle school principal said.

"There are no specific criteria for suspending children," a Tokyo primary school head said. "If we suspend children, some parents may criticize the school for its lack of ability to teach properly."

Furthermore, there is nowhere for the suspended children to go.

"We need a rehabilitation program that will allow them to return to school,"an Education Rebuilding Council member said.

"We need to offer guidance to bullies, but we also need to discuss preparing a program for suspended students," a middle school principal said.

(Nov. 30, 2006)