Essex: Kids should "act less gay" to avoid being bullied (From Braintree and Witham Times)

Essex: Kids should "act less gay" to avoid being bullied

9:21am Tuesday 1st November 2011 in News

Teachers allegedly told bullied children to act “less gay” if they want to end their torment.

In a damning report by Essex County Council, pupils revealed they had been accused of making themselves a target for bullies by choosing to behave or look differently.

As well as criticising their supposed sexuality, teachers reportedly told youngsters to “wear their hair differently” if they wanted to avoid trouble.

The pupils spoke out at meeting for more than 250 children and teachers from schools across the county, hosted by the county council in March, to tackle issues affecting youngsters.

Julie Keating, County Hall’s anti-bullying principal officer, said: “The young people are working to make links with training colleges, to see if they can have some impact on the training new teachers receive on how to respond to and deal with bullying issues.

“They are keen to develop an assertiveness package that can be used to support young people being bullied and will be receiving training later in the year to help them with this project.”