Gumleaf
February 2nd, 2008, 07:42 PM
Sunday Feb 3 05:55 AEDT
A new "slap attack" fad at elite private schools is driving girls to get professional help over cruel bullying.
Girls who are not promiscuous or are perceived to be a threat to group leaders are hit on Slapfest Days, psychologists have told News Ltd newspapers.
A Slapfest Day involves a group of girls who target a student and repeatedly slap her behind teachers' backs.
Psychologist Dr John Cheetham said he had treated victims from Melbourne's private schools.
"It's devious, sneaky, vicious and it's humiliating for its victim," he said. "The victim lives in fear."
Dr Cheetham said there was peer pressure to have casual relationships with boys from nearby schools.
"In one case, the girl was targeted because she wasn't sleeping around," Dr Cheetham said.
The bullies slap victims on the arms, back or legs and the attacks happen at lockers or as they walk into classrooms.
Psychologist Jennifer Garth said Slapfest Day victims endured a terrifying school environment.
"It would certainly have an effect on their self-esteem and would lead to an immense amount of anxiety and possibly depression," she said.
Another psychologist - who did not want be named - has counselled victims from Loreto Mandeville Hall in Toorak and Firbank Grammar School in Brighton.
But Loreto Mandeville Hall principal Dr Susan Stevens rejected suggestions that Slapfest Days occurred at the Toorak school, adding they had tough policies on bullying.
©AAP 2008
A new "slap attack" fad at elite private schools is driving girls to get professional help over cruel bullying.
Girls who are not promiscuous or are perceived to be a threat to group leaders are hit on Slapfest Days, psychologists have told News Ltd newspapers.
A Slapfest Day involves a group of girls who target a student and repeatedly slap her behind teachers' backs.
Psychologist Dr John Cheetham said he had treated victims from Melbourne's private schools.
"It's devious, sneaky, vicious and it's humiliating for its victim," he said. "The victim lives in fear."
Dr Cheetham said there was peer pressure to have casual relationships with boys from nearby schools.
"In one case, the girl was targeted because she wasn't sleeping around," Dr Cheetham said.
The bullies slap victims on the arms, back or legs and the attacks happen at lockers or as they walk into classrooms.
Psychologist Jennifer Garth said Slapfest Day victims endured a terrifying school environment.
"It would certainly have an effect on their self-esteem and would lead to an immense amount of anxiety and possibly depression," she said.
Another psychologist - who did not want be named - has counselled victims from Loreto Mandeville Hall in Toorak and Firbank Grammar School in Brighton.
But Loreto Mandeville Hall principal Dr Susan Stevens rejected suggestions that Slapfest Days occurred at the Toorak school, adding they had tough policies on bullying.
©AAP 2008