Being bullied in school can affect a child’s personality and behavior. This essay discusses the role of schools in the prevention of bullying.
What are the best ways for schools to stop bullying?
Bullying is an aggressive display of emotional and physical behavior that harms or intends to harm someone. Bullying is intentional. It is often repetitive and abuses the imbalance of power between two individuals. Bullying is an anti-social activity. It can happen anywhere but is most prevalent in schools.
Schools can tackle bullying in several ways. Here are some initiatives that promote inclusivity and sharing while deterring bullies from harming their fellow students.
Creating a safe environment
The most critical aspect of tackling bullying is to make the children feel safe. Taking bullying seriously, initiating quick action against the perpetrators, and encouraging children to confide in elders are some ways to make them feel safer. A specific faculty should be made the contact point to report all such cases.
Making students aware of bullying
It is the responsibility of schools to make children aware of bullying and tell them how it can be reported or redressed. Schools can counsel students on how to avoid confrontations and stay safe during a physical altercation. They can lead anti-bullying campaigns that create a united front and spread mass awareness.
Outlining teachers role
The safety of children in any institution requires consistency and commitment on the part of the authorities. Teachers can play an important part in limiting bullying activities. They must stand up for the victims, be approachable, and help those with mental trauma get back into socialising and being a part of the community.
Counselling parents
Parents of both the victims and the bullies should follow zero tolerance towards bullying. The schools should counsel parents to help defend their children against bullying. They should have guidelines for parents on tackling bullying and encourage them to document any untoward behavior in their child. They should be advised to report any signs that are threatening or hurtful.
Conclusion
Bullying is a serious matter. Its perpetrators should be reported, penalised, and counselled into becoming better individuals. Schools play an important role in curbing incidents of bullying. The most critical of all measures is to make students feel safe on campus. If they do not feel protected in a school or at home, the chances of them standing up to bullies are few and far between.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does bullying imply?
Bullying refers to an aggressive course of action that is intentional and directed toward someone with the purpose of bodily harm or provoking an emotional response.
- Does bullying happen only in schools?
No, bullying can happen anywhere. While it can also happen in workplaces and at home, it is most rampant in schools.
- Can bullying be reported to the police?
Yes. Bullying that is supported by written or physical evidence can be reported to the authorities. The intent to harm someone mentally or cause bodily harm is punishable by law.
- How do you prevent cyberbullying?
Reporting cyberbullies to the authorities and the service providers helps. People should spread the word against cyberbullies to make others aware of them. Also, children’s activity on internet-enabled devices should be supervised and limited.
- Are parents responsible for children who bully others?
The parents are held responsible by the authorities as legal guardians of a minor person. Parents should adopt a zero-tolerance policy against bullying and counsel their children against it.
References
https://blog.ipleaders.in/bullying/
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_are_the_best_ways_to_prevent_bullying_in_schools
https://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/how-to-prevent-bullying
https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Bullying#/Image:Stop-Bullying-Step-12-Version-3.jpg
https://www.apa.org/topics/bullying/prevent
