The suicide last week of a teenager enrolled in a public institute in Madrid, due to possible xenophobic harassment, has reopened the debate about violence in the classroom.
In view of tackling this serious problem, the Community of Madrid has approved today the new decree to regulate coexistence in public schools, schools and institutes in the region.
According to the new text, the companions of boys like this, They should inform the staff of the center about possible bullying situations. Otherwise, they will incur a "serious misconduct" that it implies punishments ranging from the prohibition of going out to recess to the expulsion of six school days from the center.
In Babies and more Ten key experts to combat and prevent bullyingAs explained by the Ministry of Education in the newspaper 'El mundo':
"With this regulation, the Government of the Community of Madrid wants to respond to the new social situation, establishing a regulatory framework that allows schools to develop their own coexistence plan, with special emphasis on the prevention and resolution of conflicts" .
More autonomy to the centers and graduation of faults
These are the main novelties included in the new normative text, which will replace Decree 15/2007, of April 19, regulating framework of coexistence in the teaching centers of the Community of Madrid.
According to the new decree, that The 2010-2021 academic year will take effect, the address of the centers may "choose the way to resolve the conflicts they deem most appropriate". In addition, they themselves will designate an instructor to "collect the information, transfer it to the parents involved and adopt a resolution in less than 18 days."
In Babies and more Two children in each class suffer bullying or violence in SpainFurther, cyberbullying is explicitly recognized and are defined as "very serious" actions related to "the recording, advertising or dissemination through any means or support of aggressions or humiliations committed or with vexative content for members of the educational community".
The consequences for the possible cyberbully can range from prohibiting participation in extracurricular activities for a period of time, to expulsion from the center.The new decree also obliges teachers and workers of the educational centers of Madrid to inform the management team "situations that show signs of child, youth or gender violence against children or women" and to these centers of "Inform the Prosecutor's Office or the corresponding body based on the seriousness of the facts."
And one last fact: the new decree includes, although it is not mandatory to report if it occurs outside the center, "the commitment to the prevention and elimination of bullying and cyberbullying both inside and outside the classroom".
Without a doubt, a great step forward to avoid more cases of bullying in children and adolescents that may even end in suicide.
