Bullying in Schools

[Humaira Kaleem]

There are various bullying incidents taking place in our schools everyday yet they are hardly ever reported by the students.

Can you please share those anti-bullying measures which have worked well in your school?

[DarrenB]

Post probably needs to be moved out of "warm fuzzies"...

Strict zero tolerance anti-bullying policies, taught and enforced by teachers and administrations really help. Teachers need to keep an eye out for the low-grade bullying they might see in the classroom and halls. Once recognized, intervene.

[ChocolateNewOrleans]

and Heaven forbid a normal student is voicing his opinion against homosexuality and a gay hears him. Normal student is then in trouble for bullying.

0 tolerance is for 0 brains

[Boxcar]

I've wondered what to do about "You Can't Play" Syndrome. I mean, I don't want to force the children to play with one another. However, it is not okay to exclude others. There is a book called You Can't Say "You Can't Play". I don't want to take it that far, but it is difficult... Relational aggression begins to replace the physical at this age, and it needs to be dealt with.

I've tried ths: If a game is in progress, it is fine to say that someone cannot play. If a game is just starting, you have to let the person play or have a good reason why they can't.

Not a perfect solution by any means. I try to go on a case by case basis, but I don't really like that.

[ChocolateNewOrleans]

there is a term, and I can never remember it, but it applies to those kids who are always the victim of bullying. You know, the kid (and parent) always thinks they are getting picked on, the picking on is not done by one student, for 20 incidents of 'bullying' there are 20 different kids involved, but the one constant is the victim.

Sometimes, kids do stuff to attract bullies and in those cases, we are targeting the wrong kid to try and fix.

[Boxcar]

I can't remember the word either, but I know what you mean.

I do my best to prevent the cycle. When a student has a problem, I demonstrate how it can be solved. The next time there is a problem, I stay silent and expect the student to remember what I demonstrated. I'll step in, if I have to. However, eventually I take myself out of the picture entirely. I send the student back with a "Let me see what you can do first. Remember what we talked about before? Try that and let me know how it goes. I'm right here if you need help, but I believe you can do it."

Of course, it usually isn't accomplished that easily. Eventually, they get it.

[Tiamat]

Some kids seem to have "victim" tattooed on their forehead. It's some indefinable thing in appearance or manner that just attracts bullying. Most experienced teachers can recognise these children and it's very difficult. Sometimes they are moved from school to school in an attempt to mke their lives easier, but the problem follows them. If a child is targeted at more than one school, the problem is, somehow, in them, I think. I don't know how to define it or how to solve it (I wish I did), but sometimes we can't stop it.

At my school, our main issue is racist, and we stamp on that very hard when we become aware of it (we have Australian Aboriginal, Anglo Australian, Pacific Islander and a large group of Muslim students - the mix is interesting, to say the least).

[Boxcar]

That does sound interesting.

I think as teachers all we can do is try to give the victems the tools. We can't save them, but we can give them advice. Sometime in the future, that student may decide to take our suggestions to heart and do what needs to be done.

I think that these students do need to be placed in a supportive counseling enviroment. I feel that self-esteem is a huge factor in things.

If you teach others how to treat you and convey what you want them to think, you have a better chance at being accepted.

For example, a student acts aloof to the bullying. He acts like the pranks and comments are pathetic and childish. This has to be done by actions, body language, and attitude. It can't be a phrase that is parroted back. If he behaves as though he is untouchable, he will get the respect he needs.

You sometimes have to fake it before you can be it.

I hope this post makes sense. I don't know how good a job I'm doing communicating my thoughts here. I know what I'm trying to say, but...

[ChocolateNewOrleans]

but what about the kids that antagonize just so they can shout "BULLY" and play the victim role later.

The parent is right, their kid was pushed down and called a name everyday this week. So now, we're accused of allowing bullying to happen when the truth of the situation is, this kid was trying to be annoying and push these other kid's buttons.

[MissTeach]

I believe as teachers we do need to teach students how to avoid being the victim of bullying. I also believe we need to teach other students that it is WRONG to bully. I see adults making fun of other people and then I see students acting in the same way. It is a cycle that needs to be broken. I realize that is hard to stop, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

[wtrafton]

the antagonizing kid is the bully and we need to teach the others not to let them win........they need to ignore or seek help not retaliate........it really is all part of the cycle

my training is that bullies want control, if they get the reaction (retaliation, fear, etc) they want they will continue

[Boxcar]

Yes, allowing retailiation is not good. Proactive skills are what need to be taught.

Children who antagonize and then cry foul are a challenge to address. ABC reports can help with this. The teacher is going to need to be very observant and covert to catch the orignial behaviors. Then, those get documented. Hard to do, yes. But maybe osme sort of a solution.

[MissTeach]

I just received an email from our discipline administrator telling us to watch one of our students because he was being bullied. Well, he happens to be in my classroom right now! He is a very quiet young man, who does not draw attention to himself. He very seldom speaks to the other students, although he has two friends that he is with at lunch and school events. It is hard to believe that anyone would want to pick on him! He doesn't dress differently, doesn't 'bug' other students, or do anyting to draw attention to him. I am so surprised he is being bullied!

[SS Rocks!]

The science teacher on my team borrowed some ideas from a friend of hers. We put on a bullying awareness program for our kids. We defined bullying, informed them of types of bullying, preventing bullying and what to do if they are being bullied.

This is my first year, so I'm not sure what it has done to decrease bullying, however my team has said that the number of incidents being reported has increased significantly. Much of what they report are genuine issues that deserve attention. I wish we had done more with it and covered more ground concerning preventing bullying.