SA Question 2- Bullying: Definition. Causes. Possible outcomes. What can the teacher do? What can the school do?

Question 1

Define bullying

Answer 1

Any action which is hurtful, unprovoked, deliberate and repeated.
Bullying has been called “the most malicious and malevolent form of antisocial behaviour practised in our schools” (Tattum, 1993)

Question 2

List the types of bullying

Answer 2

• Name-calling/taunting
  - Physical attacks
  - Exclusion (including by mobile phone!)
  - Extortion
  - Harassing or intimidating behaviour

Question 3

List the causes of bullying

Answer 3

• They feel powerless in their own lives
• Someone else is bullying them
• They are jealous of the person they are bullying
• Lack of understanding or empathy
• Looking for attention
• To exercise power & control
• Intolerance of difference or perceived weakness
• To bolster own prestige, standing

Question 4

List the possible outcomes of bullying

Answer 4

The effects on the victim
- Lowering of self-esteem
- Relationship avoidance loner, isolate
- Health complaints
- Increased background fear depression
Effects on the bully
- Poor school performance (missed school due to suspensions increases this risk)
- Difficulty maintaining social relationships
- Increased risk of later in life substance abuse

Question 5

What can the school do to prevent bullying?

Answer 5

• Education: information; reverse role-play activities; policy
• Increased out-of-class student supervision
• Establish a school culture (key values of the school) that is clearly pro-learning, where members of the school community receive and communicate clear, coherent messages that ‘this is a place of learning where violence is neither accepted or expected’
• Reduce the amount of ‘anonymous space’= increase adult supervision as most bullying occurs when adults are not around

Question 6

What can the school do to correct bullying?

Answer 6

• Take the no blame or shared concern approach
• No blame= used within groups of students and helps groups to make victims more empowered to have a happier time at school
• Shared concern=individual meetings with each student involved in the bullying to follow up until the issue has been resolved
• Availability of counselling
• Appropriate sanctions for bullies
• Support programs for victims
• Inclusion of parents in any overall program
• Mobilise peers e.g. Peer Protection Program

Question 7

What can the teacher do?

Answer 7

• Be proactive
• Establish the key values of the school
• Reduce the amount of ‘anonymous space’= increase adult supervision as most bullying occurs when adults are not around
• Teach and model kindness and empathy
• Identify warning behaviours of bullying (often show their intention) e.g. Eye rolling, name calling, ignoring
• Stop bullying on the spot
• Create a safe and supportive environment
• Support the kids involved