Bullying In Schools
Preventing Bullying Is Everyone’s Job
Almost 30% of youth in the United States are estimated to be involved in bullying, according to the National Youth Violence Resource Center. EMC loss control specialists recognize the fact that preventing bullying requires a coordinated effort of all members of that community — administrators, teachers, students and parents.
[The following information is reprinted courtesy of the National School Safety Center]
What is school bullying?
Bullying is a form of violence that hurts others. School bullying happens at school or
during school-sponsored activities when a student or group of students intentionally and
repeatedly uses their power to hurt other individuals or groups. Bullies’ power can
come from their physical strength, age, financial status, popularity, social status,
technology skills, or by association (the people they know, who they hang out with, who their family is).
What are the consequences of school bullying?
School bullying affects the safety and social well-being of the entire school community.
Wanting and needing to belong at school is important to most students. Being put-down,
embarrassed, physically hurt or terrorized at school on a regular basis is hurtful for students
at any grade level. Bullying can make a student feel unwanted and rejected.
Students who are targets of bullying spend their energy at school being afraid and worrying about when and how they will be bullied again. They may suffer direct pain and discomfort when the bullying is physical. They may begin to withdraw from school activities and areas on campus where bullying takes place. They may begin to stay away from school. In the worst cases, some students become ill, depressed and even suicidal. Some students take a vigilante approach and feel the need to fight back with weapons or in other dangerous ways.
Students who bully may think that they are in full control of what is happening. They may also think that the only ones being hurt are the targets of their bullying. The fact is that bullying also hurts the one who does it. A bully who learns to use aggression toward others may find the negative behavior a hard habit to break. Some students who bully are less likely to be respected or trusted by others. Bullies may be seen as manipulators or as mean and unpleasant people. Some acts of bullying can result in suspension or expulsion from school and the loss of valuable learning time. Bullying behaviors that continue into adulthood can turn into child abuse, domestic violence and other criminal activities. Studies show that serious bullies tend to have their first serious brush with the law by their mid-twenties.
Students who observe bullying at school may begin to think bullying is acceptable schoolbehavior. They may assume that the adults at their school either don’t care enough to stop it or can’t stop it. Some students may join in with the bully. Other students may fear that they will become the next target, particularly if they share common traits with the target. Some students may risk their own safety to intervene for their close friends or other peers who are being bullied.
Schools that allow bullying to continue are promoting violence. Studies show that acts of serious school violence often have their roots in bullying issues. A school may develop a reputation for being non-caring, irresponsible and persistently dangerous. Some schools have faced costly and embarrassing litigation or loss of enrollment for these very reasons. Bullying endangers the academic mission of a school community. Bullying compromises the school safety mission.
What can teachers do about classroom bullying?
Preventing and responding to classroom bullying should not create an additional burden for the
dedicated teacher. The same atmosphere that promotes effective teaching and successful student
learning can help address the challenge of student bullying. Veteran teachers already plan,
deliver, modify, evaluate and debrief lessons and activities. They do this in a manner that
reflects a knowledge and understanding of the students they teach. Many new and enthusiastic
teachers are armed with the latest content, theories and intent to impact their students’
lives in positive ways. Both kinds of teachers can develop and apply a repertoire of strategies
that will help prevent, deter and respond to classroom bullying while promoting their academic
mission. Strategies may include:
- Modeling desired attitudes and behavior
- Fostering student-shared responsibility for the classroom’s social and physical environment
- Establishing and communicating rules and sanctions regarding bullying
- Applying classroom rules fairly and consistently
- Identifying and intervening upon undesirable attitudes and behaviors that could be “gateway behaviors” to bullying and harassment
- Managing time and task so that students remain connected and productive and less likely to engage in undesirable behaviors;
- Teaching students how to ask for help and how to report cruelty, bullying, and harassment
- Responding to requests of help
- Referring critical bullying cases to appropriate sources of support
- Aligning instructional topics of courage, reasoning, fairness, justice, responsibility, citizenship, and collaboration with appropriate academic/elective content or extracurricular activities
- Promoting personal and social skills development
How can a school community promote an anti-bullying message?
Using established activities and traditions is a smart and efficient way to address bullying issues.
A school can redesign an existing activity into a strategy that promotes an anti-bullying message.
For example:
- Staff meetings are opportunities to regularly assess school climate. A simple invitation for a quick discussion of emerging issues and conflicts can help short circuit problems and allow staff members to compare notes on how students are doing.
- PA announcements offer an ideal venue for student-generated campaigns that promote a norm for a bully-free school. PA announcements can also encourage and teach students to report bullying or get appropriate help.
- School web sites can offer accurate and appropriate information regarding bullying for students, staff and parents. They can be used to set forth expectations for how bullying will be addressed at school.
- School mascots and mottos can be used to promote messages and expectations for the respect, value and safety of all students.
- Student newspapers can be used to deliver a series of anti-bullying articles that can help educate students and help keep the anti-bullying message alive.
- Leadership classes can integrate bullying information to help promote the power of peers to establish an anti-bullying expectation.
- School letterhead and business cards can be enhanced to carry a message that promotes respect and belonging for all students.
- Suggestion boxes are an anonymous way to report incidents of bullying at school.
- Adult mentors can be trained as “safe contacts.” Students can report bullying problems or ask for help and advice for themselves or others from these mentors.
- Student handbooks, planners or calendars can be designed to promote an anti-bullying message and offer tips for asking for help for self or others.
- Plays and productions that explore and personalize the issues and consequences of school bullying can be presented.
- Marquees or message boards can be used to promote anti-bullying messages and a call to action.
