Madam, – That 32 per cent of TUI teachers said that they did not have a specific formal procedure to follow if a racist incident occurred in their school or college (Home News, April 5th) is remarkable given that an anti-bullying policy for schools is mandatory, as it is for colleges.
It is expected that an anti-bullying policy which serves as an integral part of a school’s or college’s code of behaviour and discipline includes specific measures to deal with all forms of inappropriate aggression, direct and covert. Thus victimisation on the grounds of race should be met with the same disciplinary measures as specified for other forms of verbal, physical or psychological attacks (eg those based on ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation).
What is vital in any policy which aims to challenge inappropriate aggression, bullying and violence is that the entire school and college community (students, staff and parents and other representatives) are clear on the expectations of behaviour of their school and college and the disciplinary measures which will be invoked when there is a breach of that behaviour.
Such clarity should allow teachers, principals and boards of management to correct offending behaviour without fear or favour in a manner that is laid down in their policies. – Yours, etc,