Technique: Bullies were often victims first.
Bullying is serious, and children are traumatized when they become the
victims. ALWAYS take reports seriously and encourage students to get help
if they do not feel safe.
The School Safety Check Book (1990) concluded:
- School bullying is a significant and pervasive problem.
- Fear and suffering are becoming a way of life for victims of bullying.
- Young bullies are more likely to become criminals as adults and
to suffer from family and professional problems [1:20 chance for non
bullies, 1:4 for bullies].
- The prevailing attitude that kids fighting each other are just experiencing
normal youthful aggression must be discarded
- School intervention programs are needed.
Procedures:
- Assess the problem. Include parents and children in the survey efforts.
- Establish clear rules and guidelines that send the message that
the school will not tolerate students hurting students.
- Provide clear written consequences for various acts of bullying.
- Be clear that bullying that breaks laws will be reported to police.
- No bullying incident will be ignored since ignoring is condoning.
- Teachers never personally use, sponsor, laugh at or egg onā verbal
bullying, name calling, sarcasm or put-downs.
- Bullying will be confronted in private, and the bully must not be
made a victim. This is critical since many children who bully others
live in an unsafe environment and are the butt of someone elseās aggression.
- Consequences are best when as natural and logical as possible, never
given or monitored in anger and include restitution when feasible.
- Parents need to be notified and helped to know about positive ways
to support student efforts toward self control, and parents who call
with concerns need to be given support and feel that their worries
are valued.
- Victims can be taught positive ways to protect themselves and healthy
means for dealing with their own anger or grief.
- Students will be reinforced for efforts to gain attention and power
in positive ways.
- Monitoring may need to be increased to "catch the students
being good" as well as providing a sense of security and consistency.
- Adapted from Johns and Carr, 1995
Some youngsters are socially or emotionally delayed and need special
help to recognize the needs and feelings of others. A few youngsters
are suffering from illness or emotional disturbance. There are many
interventions available to help children. Youngsters who misbehave need
tenderness, attention to real needs and sometimes, good professional
help during early years to reduce suffering, teach better behaviors,
and increase the pleasure of living.
Resources:
Gaustad, J. (1991) Schools respond to gangs and violence. Oregon School
Study Council Bulletin, 34. Eugene, OR.: University of Oregon.
Johns, B. H & Carr, V. G. (1995). Techniques for managing
verbally and physically aggressive students. Denver: Love.
National School Safety Center (1990). School safety
check book. Malibu, CA: Pepperdine University Press.
