School Bullying
School bullying is difficult to define — it can range anywhere from teasing and taunting to threats and outright violence. Bullying can happen in any grade, but it most commonly occurs in the middle grades. In fact, in 2005–2006, middle schools reported almost double the number of bullying incidents than either elementary or high schools.
Bullying can have extremely damaging effects. In fact, links were made between the horrible violence at Columbine High School in 1999 and school bullying. Outcast students feel disconnected, which can lead to frustration, low self-esteem, anger, and the need to lash out.
Solving the Problem
Your first task in dealing with this issue should be to find out how your school defines bullying. If bullying is a real problem, it is key that the administration and teachers come up with a consistent policy for identifying and dealing with bullies. Your school should not only deal with bullying when it occurs but also work on preventing it from happening. Following are some things that schools have done to combat bullying:
Teachers include information about bullying in the curriculum. Some schools create special units that are covered in specific classes at the beginning of each year.
Schools have worked on increasing community awareness. Pamphlets and other information focus on parents getting involved to combat bullying.
Guidance counselors and other individuals make themselves available for students to talk about bullying. This allows students to express their fears and concerns.
Schools that have bullying problems increase supervision in areas such as the lunchroom, the playground, and the parking lot. The increased adult presence can help decrease problems.
Administrators have worked with the entire staff, dealing with sensitivity to victims and their families. Often, bullied victims do not see a way out of their predicament and actions that school officials take can sometimes hurt more than help.
As a teacher, you will need to come up with an action plan for dealing with bullying. Realize that even though you cannot prevent all incidences of bullying from occurring, you are responsible for what goes on in your classroom. Ignoring this type of behavior is unacceptable.
On a more personal note, if you notice that certain students are often a target, pull them aside and give them some techniques that might help them deal with the situation. Often, simply agreeing with bullies or laughing at what they are saying will defuse the situation. Once an individual is no longer seen as an easy target, he will more than likely be left alone as the bully moves on to others who they feel can be overpowered.
In the end, bullying is a problem all educators must combat. If students do not feel safe in their school, how can they truly achieve their highest potential? Some teachers disregard teasing and taunting as a common, even necessary, part of childhood. However, to the child who is being teased, this “big picture” attitude means nothing. In fact, many of these students will be scarred for life because of what some might see as insignificant teasing. Bullied children need instant relief, and your care and concern can truly help.
