In Canada, 1 in 3 adolescents have reported being bullied and 47% of today\u2019s parents were bullied as a child. It\u2019s more common than we think, and it\u2019s still a pressing issue that goes far beyond typical childhood experience<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are many long term consequences of bullying<\/strong> that can last throughout the reset of a child\u2019s life, from mental illnesses to physical damage such as nausea, headaches, and exhaustion.<\/span><\/p>\n Bullying liability is a key component in fighting the problem and keeping children aware of the actions that they take. <\/span><\/p>\n The more people can be held responsible, the more likely it is that people will stop this horrible behaviour.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In order to hold a parent liable<\/strong> for their child\u2019s bullying, it has to be proven that the act was actually bullying. <\/span><\/p>\n According to the law, there are certain guidelines that define the difference between harassment, bullying, and schoolyard teasing.<\/span><\/p>\n Bullying is based on dominance<\/a>, so it occurs when there is a perceived power imbalance in a relationship between the children, such as a difference in size, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or race.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The main component of bullying is that the actions are done intentionally<\/strong>. If the intention can be proven, the child is guilty of bullying and their parents or administrators can be held responsible.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Schools have a responsibility to prevent bullying from happening. From the moment a child walks through the school\u2019s doors, they are under the care and protection of the staff and faculty administrators.<\/span><\/p>\n Ontario\u2019s 2012 Accepting Schools Act focuses on addressing bullying in schools across the province. It identifies teachers, principals, parents, and students as stakeholders to bullying and holds these groups responsible<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n Schools are required to provide a safe and positive environment for students of all genders, races, backgrounds, and cultures. Anti-bullying education and promotion of acceptance have been made a priority in the last few years.<\/span><\/p>\n The only issue with school accountability is the difference between private and public schools. Private schools are not covered under the Accepting Schools Act and there is no current legislation for private schools.<\/span><\/p>\n However, if a private school is competing in any activities, competitions, or events that take place in public school facilities they are legally obligated to follow the Act<\/a> for the duration of their time in that location.<\/span><\/p>\n When schools fail to provide a positive and comfortable environment, children can get hurt and suffer many serious consequences that can last throughout their lifetime. When this happens, it\u2019s important to make sure that the bullying liability is dealt to the right person.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ultimately, it is a parent or legal guardian that is responsible for the actions of their child. Anything the child does can come back to you in a negative way.<\/span><\/p>\n If your child is the victim of bullying, you can take action against the bullying child\u2019s parents by bringing them to court. Your child should not have to suffer due to another child\u2019s ignorance, and ensuring they are punished means they likely won\u2019t do it again and hurt anyone else.<\/span><\/p>\n It comes down to how much the bully\u2019s parent can prove they were providing enough supervision of their child at the time of the incident and whether they tried to prevent the incident adequately. Proof that the child did not intend any of the damage is required if the proof of supervision isn\u2019t provided.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cyberbullying is a newer form of bullying that has only existed since the relatively recent rise of the internet, but it has become an increasingly common problem in schools. More children are finding themselves the victims of painful online campaigns targeting them either anonymously or openly.<\/span><\/p>\n The issue in this case is who exactly is liable for a child\u2019s bullying. Since cyberbullying takes place online, mostly outside of school hours, holding a school responsible is complicated. <\/span><\/p>\n Administrators cannot control what their students do outside of the classroom, and therefore there are many loopholes when bringing a school to court for a cyberbullying issue. There is only a certain degree that administrators can be held liable for the bullying their students do.<\/p>\n Nova Scotia is currently the only province to pass a Cyber-Safety Act, after the tragic death of Rehtaeh Parsons. Under this act, parents are held responsible for the actions of their children unless they can prove without doubt that they were supervising their children properly while they were online.<\/p>\n Parsons, from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, was 17 years old when she committed suicide in 2013. According to reports, she was sexually harassed and a photograph circulated around her school from the incident, leading to her being bullied by her peers<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n While this law is currently only in Nova Scotia, similar laws have begun to make their way in provincial legislation across the country. In provinces such as Ontario, there are laws targeting bullying in general, but these laws do account for online incidents.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s the responsibility of a parent to make sure their children grow up learning acceptable behaviour. This is the first step in preventing bullying and teaching children to create positive environments for everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to parents, school systems need to make sure they are educating children about the consequences of their actions. Bullying is preventable with the right socialization, education, and responsibility.<\/span><\/p>\n As a parent of a bullying victim, it can be hard to face the idea that your child has been put in this situation. Make sure that your child knows to report any bullying they see or experience to their teacher or principal. The school cannot take action if they are unaware that any bullying is happening.<\/span><\/p>\n If appropriate actions are not taken when your child is suffering, it\u2019s time to take legal action.<\/span><\/p>\n If your child is being bullied, get retribution.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"High](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/original-bullying.jpg20160705-2375-1i5q6ah.jpg\" "\\"High")
<\/p>\nWhat is Bullying?<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Any type of intimidation tactic, generally using superior strength\u00a0and dominance, that is intended to force someone to do something is considered bullying.<\/p>\nWho is Held Responsible When a Child is Bullied?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Legal Liability of a Parent<\/span><\/h3>\n
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In Canada, the parents of the bullying child can be held legally responsible for their child\u2019s actions under the Parental Responsibility Act of 2000<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhen Bullying Goes Further Than the Classroom<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Holding a parent liable is a tricky situation when it comes to cyberbullying, because it can be harder for a parent to prove whether they were supervising their child\u2019s online activity. There is only so much control a parent can exercise over their child when the internet is such a vast network.<\/span><\/p>\nParental Responsibility: The Ultimate Factor<\/span><\/h3>\n
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