Bullying could be good for kids

London, Jan 31: Being a victim of bullies at school can actually be good for children, according to an academician.

Helene Guldberg, associate lecturer in child development at the Open University suggest that bullying can help students to learn how to manage disputes and boost their ability to interact with others.

In an article on Spiked website, Guldberg urged teachers not to break up "boisterous banter or everyday playground disputes" and let children handle it themselves.

She said that the "obsession" with bullying among teachers and politicians was depriving children of the "experiences they need to develop".

However, her idea was panned by anti-bullying campaigners.

Despite the government’s crackdown on attacks and intimidation, almost half of children still claim they are bullied at school.

"Teachers are increasingly lumbered with the task of looking after children's health and wellbeing rather than being allowed to get on with the task of educating them,” the Telegraph quoted Guldberg as saying.

"Children are encouraged to assume their relationships with other children are damaging, and tacitly encouraged to look upon their peers with trepidation and suspicion.

"If we treat children as if they cannot possibly cope with hurtful experiences, then we will likely undermine their confidence and make them less likely to cope with difficult events in the future.

“In effect, we will prevent them from growing up," she added.