The majority of the fearless and criminal "kids" that I have known (sadly a lot) ; are children who have no permanent father figure in their life.

One of the reasons (in the Illawarra at least) is the raging unemployment together with Centrelink's need to reduce the benefits of people who choose to live together, this with the housing commisions need to up the rent for anyone else living on the premises is a damn fine incentive for people (mostly single mothers) to live alone on the pension.

I would hazard a guess and claim that most women assaulted by their own children do not have a male around....PS It is not rare these days.

Most advanced mammals have a system of tough love punishments for offspring, intended to prepare the adolescent for adulthood. Discipline is not a crime, bring back the cane.

No more holiday camps like Keelong as the message in the Illawarra to the kids was that getting caught is no big deal as the state will pamper you until you are released to mummy again.

Bullying starts in primary school.They learn it off the teachers.

Perhaps if parents stopped being threatened by their kids to have assault charges laid against them then we might just be able to discipline our children properly.

A good clip from my parents didn't do me any harm. If you as much as raise your voice you are classed as being aggressive.

Give parents back control and then society might go somewhere. Maybe the schools should be teaching discipline themselves, not telling children they can charge their parents with assault and how much they can get if they move out of the family home.

But their hands are tied too. There is a fine line between discipline and abuse but most of us do not cross it. Yes i am speaking from experience.

How true. Children need boundaries, discipline and a set routine. If you invest time and effort into rearing your children, you will be rewarded in the years to come. It's not rocket science. Maybe some of these people having child after child without the means or desire to support them, should stop and have a good look at themselves. Stop being selfish and think about your kids for a change.

To Silvertail, I know you probably didn't mean it the way it sounded but as a teacher, some of the worst kids I have seen come from families who have a lot of money and have only 1 - 2 children and not "some people who have child after child without the means or desire to support them". Parents appear to be too busy working to buy the latest and greatest stuff and letting kids get their own way because it's EASIER! How about parents learn the word NO?! Yes you will be unpopular for a few hours but at least you won't suffer the embaressment of seeing your children's disgusting behaviour splashed all over the internet. Just try saying this......"No, you can't have a mobile phone and if you ask me again you won't get one for the next 5 years"

THE PSYCHOLOGIST SAID: I think parents really do need to wake up to themselves and stop being pressured by pester power"" Pester power. I like it. And it describes the demands of youth to a T.

My 9 year old son is being bullied at school right now by 3-4 different kids in his class. This has been going on since last year. I went and discussed this with the Acting School Principal last year, and was told to leave it to him to sort out. In the last 4 weeks my son has come home everyday and said the bullying is still continuing. 2 weeks ago I went and seen his teacher and explained the situation so as to make her aware of what is happening. I was told to leave it to her and she would sort it out. I wanted to inform/confront these kids parents, but was told not to, because they might be offended to hear that their child is a bully. I have kept a diary of the days, and by whom he is bullied by, for proof. If the teachers and the school won't fix this problem with my son and these aggresive bullies, then it is really up to me to sort out. If need be, I will confront these kids, and their parents, to get this to stop. You try and go down the right avenues, but if this doesn't work (which at the moment is not) then my boys welfare comes back to me, as his father. I will take matters into my own hands to stop this if I have too!

my daughter has been battling this problem for years the doesnt help it gets worse if you 'dob' on the bullys last week i called the high school to warn them about a threat against my daughter and the principal suggested i keep my daughter at home ? the police said theres not much we can do about it. i too blame lack of parenting for these problems occuring in our area and its not just single parent families its just lack of care

To Sad Parent - I'm sorry for the mess you and your daughter have to deal with. Thanks for your advice though. Both my son and daughter are 'blue belts' at tai kwon do, that I got them into for self defence. At this stage my son is only verbally bullied, but if it becomes physical, then I have given him permission to belt the crap out of the bully. I am trying to teach both my children self respect and respect for others, but to defend themselves at all costs if every harmed. If this ever happened, then I would most proberbly be accused of not keeping my kids under control. I have taken the advise of the teachers and principal, but this is not working. In todays society, you really do have to look after yourself, what ever it takes! I hope you and your daughters situation gets better soon!

these bullies need a good kick up the bum and be taught a lesson.

As far as I'm concerned if a bully assaults any of my children they will be charged with assault.

There is no difference if someone assaults you in the street or school they will be charged by the police.

Or I'll see if they like being bullied by a person bigger and stronger than them.

Remember once a bully always a bully