Advice on how to deal with bullies given by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has come under attack from experts but garnered support from a number of parents. Speaking on ABC Radio Mr. Rudd suggested that if the children involved in the bullying could not sort the situation out amongst themselves and if teachers also failed to find a solution then the parents of the children should talk to each other. He said he saw nothing wrong with one parent phoning another parent in order to sort out a bullying problem.

 

Experts have been quick to say that although they understood what Mr. Rudd was trying to say in real life contact between parents over the subject of bullying can often turn hostile. Dr. Michael Carr-Greg a teen psychologist and recognised expert on bullying slammed the Prime Minister’s advice as being terrible. He said that he found it disappointing that Mr. Rudd would make such an irresponsible statement without first seeking the advice of experts. Dr. Carr-Greg said that contact between parents ran the risk of making the situation a lot worse. He said that one way to deal with the problem if a school was incapable of sorting it out would be to contact the Education Department.

 

Norm Hart, president of the Queensland Association of State School Principles said that he agreed with what Mr. Rudd was attempting to say but warned parents to make sure that they were in possession of all of the facts before contacting another child’s parents.

 

One parent said that she disagreed with the experts and that when she phoned another parent to put an end to her daughter’s bullying it was a relief for all.