Bullying in Spain's schools | DW Documentary

Children subjected to bullying often carry lifelong scars. Many go on to suffer from mental illness, and some are even driven to contemplate suicide. In Spain, the tragic case of Kira López has triggered a nationwide debate on bullying.

At the age of 15, Kira López took her own life. Her parents say bullying at school drove her to her death. They accuse the school of failing to take action to stop the bullying and have filed a lawsuit. They want those responsible to be held to account and hope to spare other children the bullying that their daughter went through. Brian Giner also knows what it means to have everyday school life turned into a nightmare. He was bullied for twelve years because he had crossed eyes.

He changed schools repeatedly, mostly blaming himself for what was happening: "For a long time, I thought bullying was normal. If you experience it for long enough, you start to believe everything they say about you. It took me a long time, for example, to be able to look my partner in the eye. Then there was the terrible fear of facing a group. The fear of giving a presentation, and appearing in front of lots of people. I panicked at the thought that someone might make eye contact with me.”

He’s written a book describing his ordeal. His aim in particular is to encourage others affected by bullying. He regularly visits schools and gives lectures and workshops aimed at preventing bullying. Together with Kira's father José Manuel, he’s campaigning for a nationwide anti-bullying law.

Their goal is to raise awareness of the problem and bring about lasting change. They’re calling for clear, nationwide rules for dealing with bullies and documentation of each case, applicable to every school and in every part of Spain. Only then, says Kira’s father, will he be able to find some peace.

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[noorofandalus]

Most schools don't care AT ALL. And the parents of the bullies don't care either. Only those we go through it know how much it ends up shapping your own self-esteem and communication skills.

[shazzari]

“And because she didn’t fit in at school, now she fits into a small urn.” This is beyond heartbreaking 😢😢😢

[RK-vexp]

I have been bullied at school, college and at work. I am a magnet for bullies. I don't know why. I got into depression and self-harm due to bullying which led to losing job and into disability. It is a global problem. It needs laws passed and awareness raised. Otherwise many more children will die. We have to teach children and adults to respect the humanity of each other. Otherwise we as a society have failed.

[christinezafiris]

I am 70 years old. I cannot forget the times I was bullied at school. It ended when I physically fought back, lost one fight but won the other. My parents didn’t know and I was miserable. By the way, the bullying ceased. I am heartbroken listening to these stories. Timid and vulnerable children need to learn self defence.

[carichicago]

I feel so bad for all of them. I’m glad the young man that is 23 is turning a negative experience into a positive outcome. I can’t believe people would bully him, his energy is so kind and he is handsome. I feel bad for the adorable girl that cried when she spoke of the bullying. I feel so bad for Kira and her parents. She is angel. I am disappointed in the school administrators.

[MT-ysju]

I was bullied too very much when i was a child.. Up until today I suffer with paralysing social anxieties as a side effect. The hardest part was that the teachers and the school itself, did nothing!

[igor-ypxv]

I suffered bullying when in school and it has scarred me for life.

[ABB.]

When my 12 year old daughter was 9 she started cutting her arms because of bullying at school. She didn’t tell me for a while and then when a friend of hers told me about the cutting I immediately contacted the school and surprisingly they were very quick to put an end to it. They had a huge gymnasium full of elementary students for a day long seminar about bullying. I was surprised just how pro active in this Midwestern American elementary school they actually were. My daughter has always been a little different starting from age 8 but didn’t deserve that. To this day she still wears a sleeve thing on her left arm to cover the scarring. In the past I thought it was something she wore in her “emo” phase sort of like an accessory.
We’ve since moved schools and are lucky it hasn’t happened again. That full year of bullying still affects her today she has horrible group anxiety and doesn’t like to leave the house much or go over to friends or have friends over the way she used to. Some days I wonder if she will ever have that excitement in her eyes and how she was so outgoing as a younger child. It’s like all the anxiety of those bullies just sucked the life out of her and some days it seems like she’s just sort of surviving. Anyway just my thoughts.

[daori]

I'm from Spain. I was bullied. My parents weren't able to bring me the help I needed. The school didn't take me seriously. I guess I was able to get through it because it wasn't extremely severe, but I am still not a fully functional adult and I need therapy and medication to be able to have a normal live. I cryed during this documentary. Sometimes parents do not help. No, I wasn't from a poor family, nor a dysfunctional family. Sometimes parents are not equipped to deal with this stuff. Please, educate parents too.

[HT-rqom]

Kira‘s school was directly responsible for her death. All who let her down and told her she (WTH?!!!!) was the problem.
My deepest condolences to the parents.💔

[askosefamerve]

I have a friend that got bullied during middle school. Our friend group has wonderful memories; she has nightmares, panic attacks and trust issues. Bullying is hell. I wish it to no one.

[wingberry]

In Spain, even teachers are the bullies. I have seen teachers putting students down with their words and them ignoring bullying within school hours. This is things I've seen as an English Language Assistant.

[bossman]

This heartbreaking. I pray my toddler never gets bullied and he sticks up for others. It’s a worrying world we live in.

[Ali_Teach]

Thank you for making doc on a such sensitive topic. May Kira and other victims get justice and soon bullying is put to an end!

[amidkk]

Talks like these should also involve school teachers and management who have more power and authority to halt bullying. I've gone through bullying by my school seniors, but I retaliated to those who have bullied me years after I begin to grow-up physically. I turn-up to become a protector to younger guys against bully.

[Pushunguis]

As a teacher myself I can’t tell when a kid is a bully and I keep a close eye on them, no kid is gonna be bullying a kid in my school

[mendicius_jade]

As a former bully victim when I was a teenager and as a teacher who has witnessed bullying amongst my students, I find that you cannot teach the bully not to bully anymore, often they won't take you seriously, instead, you need to help/teach the victim how to fight.

[ArtbyNorah]

Please call a spade a spade, this isn’t bullying, these are criminal acts that should be punished. I disagree with the father who said kids are kids- kids are little but not dumb- they know right from wrong. Besides, I used to be a teacher and teachers could form a cartel and never do anything about what goes inside the school for fear of losing their jobs or something else- never trust them.

[lilytea]

0:47: 😔 Bullying at school can have lifelong effects on victims, and it is important to create a safe environment for children.
4:36: 😢 Bullying leads to tragic consequences and lasting trauma for victims.
9:37: 😢 A teenager named Kira died by suicide after suffering severe bullying at her school in Barcelona.
12:49: 🔍 Parents of a bullied student work to establish an anti-bullying law after their daughter's suicide.
16:24: 🛡 Bullying in schools is a serious issue in Spain, and efforts are being made to create awareness and implement rules to address it.
20:47: 😔 A father seeks justice for his daughter's death due to bullying, as the criminal case is discontinued and they consider pursuing a civil case.
24:42: 💔 The parents of Kira, a victim of bullying, are determined to seek justice and hold the school, parents of bullies, and authorities accountable for their daughter's death.
Recap by Tammy AI

[Americaninparis]

couple of years ago, my daughter was being teased by a boy in school. when she informed us of the issue, my wife immediately contacted the school. they tried to placate us by letting us know they would talk to the boy. My wife told them it wasn't enough and insisted on a meeting with the boy's parents. realizing we weren't going to let the issue go, the school set up the said meeting but also made the boy write an essay about what he did and how wrong it was. Aftewards there was no more issue. I think our case was handled differently because my daughter goes to a private school. I have no idea how it would have gone in a public school.