A survey released by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showed that Brazilian schools are twice as likely to be bullied than the general average of schools in 48 other countries.
According to the 2018 International Survey on Teaching and Learning (TALIS), Brazilian educators use only 67% of their time in the classroom to teach didactic content.
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Still according to the survey, 28% of those responsible for Brazilian elementary schools indicated intimidation or the practice of bullying as a weekly or daily problem in schools. In addition, 18% of high school principals report that they have the same problem.
Thus, the percentage reported in Brazil exceeds the averages for Latin America, around 13%, and also worldwide, 14%. However, bullying in Brazil is even more present in the public education system, where the numbers rise to 35% in elementary school and 23% in high school.
When faced with the result of the research, specialists and teachers say that the numbers reveal the urgent need for measures to prevent physical and emotional violence against students.
Lack of Structure and Public Policies
According to teacher Andréa Dutra, who has been teaching for seven years and works at schools in the public, Brazilian schools do not have the adequate structure to deal with the complexity of bullying. In addition, Andréa claims that there are no efficient public policies to solve the problem.
Andréa Dutra still denounces the absence of janitors, inspectors and educational advisors in Brazilian teaching units. For her, the absence of these professionals makes it difficult to provide special assistance to students who practice bullying. In addition, the teacher points out that in public education, only teachers seek to solve the problem.
International Measures
The document released by the OECD demonstrates examples of public policies to deal with the practice. In Estonia, a campaign against bullying has been implemented since kindergarten. In Canada, teachers receive funds from the Ministry of Education in order to develop policies against the practice.
However, a recent American measure has gained space in the newspapers today. According to the New York Times, an American city intends to fine parents of students who practice bullying in schools. The idea has already been approved in the first vote and will undergo further analysis next month.
With this measure, the purpose of the governors of Wisconsin Rapids (located in the US state of Wisconsin) is to prohibit bullying and harassment in the city in order to protect people who carry out the complaint. The measure was thought after the suicide of a student caused by the bullying he suffered at school.
The project was inspired by a measure already adopted by a nearby city. In it, parents and guardians of young people under 18 must be fined for bullying by their children.
Students who are repeat offenders in practice are referred to the local police. In this way, the notification will be sent in writing to the responsible parties. The fine can reach the amount of US$ 313 (about R$ 1,200.00).
Psychoanalyst says punishment is not a solution
According to psychoanalyst Mônica Donetto Guedes, punishments cannot be adopted as a solution to bullying. The professional constantly assists children and adolescents who are victims of the practice. Thus, Mônica states that public policies involving students and teachers are more effective than paying fines.
In addition, the psychoanalyst states that there is no sense in the fine from the social point of view, since it is up to the institution to deal with this problem. For her, bullying is a social and cultural issue, not just a legal issue.
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