Bullying in Schools
What Educators Can Do To Help Stop Bullying Behavior
Teachers often feel powerless to have any real impact on school bullying. But there are things that can be done.
Provide a Positive Climate
In order to be successful in school, kids need to feel safe both physically and emotionally. Provide them with a safe space to take risks and make mistakes without fear. Value their opinions and ideas, and recognize their strengths. Be sure students know they can count on you to look out for them.
Model Respect and Tolerance of Others
Examine how you talk to kids and adults and make sure you’re setting the right example. Never use your power position to shame or embarrass students.
Keep Your Eyes and Ears Open
Bullying often occurs “behind the scenes” in places and times that are typically less structured and supervised. Try to limit these as much as possible. Sometimes, though, kids bully other kids right out in the open, under the guise of a “joke” or “just playing.” Don’t let these comments slip by.
Intervene
Don’t accept kids’ mistreatment of each other: address bullying each and every time. How you respond to these situations sends a strong message to the other kids about what is and it not tolerated.
Help Kids Set Boundaries
Everyone has the right to decide what behavior they are comfortable with. However, many kids don’t realize that they have the right to say “no” when something doesn’t feel right to them. Support kids in their efforts to stand up for themselves and say when someone is treating them in a way they find unacceptable.
Help Students Gain a Sense of Positive Power
Those who bully often feel powerless in their own lives and bully others in an attempt to regain some of that control. By giving kids positive opportunities to feel successful and in control, their power needs may be met without having to resort to harassing others. Give kids special jobs or responsibilities, encourage them to try new things, and affirm their accomplishments and contributions.
Keep Things Fair
Make sure that you don’t overtly or subtly encourage rituals or practices that favor certain social “power groups” over others. Don’t treat students differently because of their social status: when you do, you become part of the problem.
Model Healthy Ways to Solve Conflicts
Kids look to adults for clues about how to act when problems arise. Make sure you are providing a positive example of how to manage problems and communicate effectively and respectfully with other people.
Through their actions as well as their expectations, educators send strong messages to kids about what behavior is and is not acceptable. Make sure you are acting in a way that sends a clear anti-bullying message.
