Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has penned a letter to Australia’s school principals, imploring them to stamp out bullying.
Mr Turnbull was inspired to act after being deeply impacted by the death of teenager Dolly Everett, who committed suicide after being targeted by vicious online bullies.
Parents are pulling their children out of classrooms due to the bullying crisis, with the number of home-schooled children in Queensland doubling in just five years.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has penned a letter to Australia’s school principals, imploring them to stamp out bullying (pictured is Dolly Everett)
Mr Turnbull (pictured) was inspired to act after being deeply impacted by the death of teenager Dolly Everett, who committed suicide after being targeted by vicious online bullies
In his letter to every principal in the country, Mr Turnbull said he was ‘profoundly affected by the death of teenager Dolly Everett’, The Daily Telegraph reported.
‘We believe all students have the right to be safe at school. Bullying and violence have no place in Australia,’ he wrote.
Mr Turnbull urged principals to register for the March 16 National Day of Action against Bullying, and said the problems extends beyond the playground.
‘While school and educators have a key role to play in tackling bullying, we also know the important role parents and families play.
Parents are pulling their children out of classrooms due to the bullying crisis, with the number of home-schooled children in Queensland doubling in just five years (pictured is Dolly Everett)
‘This is our chance to stand together. Together we can reduce the incidence of bullying, whether inside the school or online, and eliminate it wherever we can.’
The emotional letter was sent as concerned parents resort to home-schooling in record numbers due to bullying fears, The Courier Mail reported.
Queensland has seen a surge in home-schooled children, with over 2,500 children in the state now educated at home, a number which has doubled in only five years.
‘Bullying is now the most common reason given to start education at home,’ said Stuart Chapman, from Accelerate Christian Home Schooling.
Dr Rebecca English, education expert at the Queensland University of Technology, said research showed bullying is behind the surge in home-schooled kids.
In his letter to every principal in the country, Mr Turnbull (pictured) said he was ‘profoundly affected by the death of teenager Dolly Everett’
‘For many families, it’s a diagnosis, often of autism, giftedness, or even ADHD. For others, it’s sustained and repeated bullying,’ she said.
‘Families often report bullying in their reasons for choosing home education.’
Sue Wright of the Australian Homeschool Network said a survey conducted by the support group showed in one in four cases home-schooling was a last resort.
Dolly Everett took her own life in the Northern Territory in January aged just 14 after being attacked by bullies.
Her father Tick took to Facebook after Dolly’s death to say his daughter did what ‘she thought she had to do to escape the evil in this world’.
His call to action on bullying garnered support nationwide and prompted state and federal leaders to move to address the crisis.
Mr Turnbull has pledged $1.37 million for anti-bullying programs- including the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence.
Over 2,300 schools around Australia have registered to participate, including 796 in Queensland and 590 in New South Wales.
Dolly Everett (pictured) took her own life in the Northern Territory in January aged just 14 after being attacked by bullies