NO - Barbara Maines, one of the creators of the "no blame" theory
It isn't about leniency or even about opinion. Independent research has shown that a support group method which involves a group of children, not only the bullies, is almost always effective in changing their behaviour, either because they choose to change or because the group no longer allows the bullying behaviour to continue. There is no evidence that punishment stops bullying and lots of evidence that it alienates bullies and puts victims at risk of revenge attack.
YES - Liz Carnell, founder of Bullying Online
Last year Bullying Online received more than 8,000 emails from distressed parents and children, many complaining that a vicious minority are allowed to get away with terrorising others. Parents are sick of the consideration being shown to bullies who are portrayed as vulnerable members of society when these are manipulative individuals who know how to exploit the system so they're never punished. We're contacted by up to three suicidal children a day. It's time to get tough before there's another tragedy.
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