How To Address Bullying In School? Part 1

How To Address Bullying In School?

By Glen Waipa

What is bullying?

Bullying is verbal, physical, or mental acts committed by a person to harass, intimidate, or cause harm to another person, with real or perceived power imbalance, and it is repeated. Bullying may include verbal threats, physical assault, intimidation, or other forms of inappropriate behavior, such as harassment, disorderly conduct, and acts which disturb the peace. 

Bullying on school campuses is a growing concern. Parents, school districts, and students should be aware of the serious violations and violence that may occur because of student bullying, and how it may be addressed.

What can parents do about school bullying?

Parents are their children's first teachers. Parents words and actions at home will be imitated by their children in other settings. Talk with your children often and listen carefully to what they have to say. 

Discuss bullying behavior and how hurtful it can be to others. Make behavioral expectations clear and be consistent with discipline when siblings and peers engage in hurtful teasing and bullying. Help children understand the meaning of friendship by modeling friendly behavior and showing how friends act positively toward each other.

Take immediate action when bullying is observed. Respond in a timely manner to all reports of bullying, provide protection for students who are bullied and establish support programs and resources for both the target and bully.  

What can parents of teens do about school bullying?

As children grow older, bullying behavior may be complicated by other factors. Sexual harassment, bias or hate-motivated bullying, and the aggressive and humiliating hazing done as part of tradition or initiation into a club, sports team, or other group may come into play. Social media and advancement of digital technology and the Internet may lead to cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying or Online Bullying will be addressed in Part 2 of How to Address Bullying In School?