Education & Family

Pupils hiding talents from bullies, survey

suggests
Some children are hiding their talents and skills in school for fear of being bullied, research has
suggested.

Nearly half of UK children have played down a talent because of bullying fears, a survey of 1,042
children aged 11 to 16 suggests.

And more than a quarter of those polled for England's anti-bullying week said they had quit an
activity they enjoy for the same reasons.

One in 10 said they had played down their ability in science.

And nearly one in five girls said they deliberately underachieved in maths skills to avoid being
bullied.

Fewer boys, one in 10, reported playing down their maths ability for the same reason.

Sports bullies

The poll also suggested many children (11%) having stopped singing because of the fears, some 8%
said they had stopped doing drama and 9% dancing. Some 8% have quit a sport because of bullying
fears.

A survey last year suggested two-thirds of parents had witnessed bullying and intimidation on the
sports field.

Ross Hendry, chair of the Anti-Bullying Alliance - a coalition of organizations tackling bullying,
said it could lead to children missing school, failing exams, dropping out of sport, avoiding extra-
curricular activities and limiting their life choices.

"It's unacceptable that rather than celebrate their talent, they feel that they have to hide their gifts,
purposely underachieve in crucial subjects and miss out on things they enjoy because of bullying."

The poll was carried out with a panel of 1,042 children online between August and October this
year.

Anti-bullying week, starting on Monday, November 19, aims to highlight the issue and offer advice
on dealing with bullying.

BBC © 2014

Lenguas Extranjeras – Reading 4 / 2015

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ACTIVITIES:

1. What do you think is the purpose of the article? ( tick the most appropriate option)
a. To entertain
b. To inform
c. To persuade

2. Highlight the year and source of the article.

3. Who do you think is the target reader?

4. Highlight the part that is more relevant to you.

5. Write your opinion about the following statement:

“Because of bullying, far too many students in schools are underachieving

as they are afraid of showing their abilities in science, math and extra-
curricular activities”

6. Read the sentences and decide if they are true (T) or false ( F):

a. The survey was made in U.S.A. ---------------

b. One in 10 boys played down their abilities in science. ----------------
c. Many children have stopped singing because of fear. ----------------

7. What is the aim of the “Anti-bullying week”?

8. Vocabulary: You will find some underlined words in the text. Match these words with
the definition.

VOCABULARY ITEM MEANING

1.deliberate ____Keep away from something

2.avoid ____A student who performs less well in school

as is expected
3.suggest ____An organization

4.underachiever ____Done on purpose

5.witness ____To deal with

6.coalition ____Someone who see an event

7. two-thirds ____Give advice, recommend

8.tackle ____Being two of three parts 2/3

Lenguas Extranjeras – Reading 4 / 2015

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