By CHERI RAUSER


Monday, March 25, 2002 – Print Edition, Page A14

Vancouver -- Too-early peer orientation is responsible for much of the bullying that is going on. However, Dr. Gabor Maté should be careful about blaming parents for children being targeted by bullies (There Is A Cure For Bullying -- March 21).

My kindergarten-age daughter was physically assaulted repeatedly by another child last fall. We tried to address the problem within the school and the attached daycare only to be given excuses for the other child's behaviour and have it pointed out that our daughter didn't exhibit appropriate peer orientation behaviour: meaning that she looked to adults for protection and reassurance, as she has been taught by the bonded adults in her life.

In December, we moved her to a bilingual public school where there is an enforced code of conduct, where there are teachers who are in control of the classroom, who provide guidance and protection when needed and who are not afraid to have children attach to them emotionally.

After a few rough weeks, our daughter has regained much of her social self-confidence and is learning to trust caregivers again.

My failure as a parent was in not removing her from the other school sooner.