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Can’t fix school bullying if society continues sending mixed messages
MOE’s standardised anti-bullying framework brings welcome clarity. But it will not succeed if the adult world sends contradictory signals.
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Young people do not learn only from what teachers tell them in classrooms. They also absorb cues from the world around them, including from how adults behave, says the writer.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Melvin Tay
Schools are among the first public institutions where young people learn how to live with differences, negotiate status, and handle conflict under shared rules. They are places where children absorb cues about what is acceptable, what strength justifies, and whether those who stand out can expect dignity or derision. They shape social norms around power, fairness and accountability.
That is what makes the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) new anti-bullying framework so important. All schools in Singapore must henceforth implement a standardised set of disciplinary measures in managing student misconduct, reducing room for inconsistent responses.
