ABSTRACT
Bullying is the most malicious and malevolent form of deviant behaviour and widely practised in our schools, yet it has until received only scant attention from the education community. The aim must be for a whole-school policy which is consistent with the daily experiences of teachers, pupils and parents. Despite the fact that bullying is widespread and persistent in schools it is only very that the problem has been taken seriously at an international level. Japan, in its legislation to reform their education system, has an entire section on 'Dealing with School Bullying' in the Second Report on Education Reform. This action follows reports that bullying in Japan caused at least nine student suicides in 1985, as well as several other cases in which victims murdered their tormentors. Individual schools must look to heighten awareness of teaching and non-teaching staff so that they are more alert to the extent of bullying and its long-term effects on both parties.
