SCHOOL BULLYING

 SCHOOL BULLYING

What Is School Bullying ?

School bullying, like bullying outside the school context, refers to one or more perpetrators who have greater physical or social power than their victim and act aggressively toward their victim by verbal or physical means. Different types of school bullying including physical, emotional, verbal, cyberbullying, sexual, and higher education. There are warning signs for the situations of a child being bullied, a child being the bully, and a child that has witnessed bullying at school. 

The cost of school violence is significant across many nations but there are political leaders who have had success in reducing school bullying through implementing certain strategies. Some methods of control that some schools use or that have been suggested to implement include educating the students, restriction of recording devices, security technology, and guards in the school. Responses to bullying vary widely depending on specific circumstances. Victims and perpetrators of bullying possess different characteristics that can be indicators of their status. 

There are many effects of school bullying, the most common being feelings of depression, anxiety, anger, stress, and helplessness. In less common instances the victim may have a decline in school performance or even less commonly, commit suicide. 1 in 3 children experience bullying at some point in their education.

Why does bullying happen?

Students are bullied for lots of reasons. Sometimes they are bullied because they are different, or because they are clever or popular. It can be caused by differences in race, sexuality, religion, disabilities and abilities, weight, height or anything that creates a difference between one child and another. At other times they are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Students who bully sometimes have problems and are unhappy. They may be trying to make up for a lack of attention, power or love in their own lives; by bullying, they try to get these in their own lives. These students need to feel powerful and seem to enjoy harming others. They often do not understand the feelings of the person they bully.

Those who persistently bully often do so in order to dominate others and improve their own social status. Bullying often comes from a belief that it's okay to act that way. Sometimes they don't even know that what they are doing is bullying behaviour, or they don't understand how much hurt and anxiety they cause.

Different Types of Bullying

Physical bullying

This involves hurting someone, or damaging or stealing their belongings. It includes:

• hitting, kicking, pinching, spitting, biting
• tripping, shoving or intimidating another person
• mean or rude hand gestures
• being made afraid of being hurt

Verbal bullying

This involves saying or writing mean things. It includes:

• name calling
• teasing someone in a hurtful way
• making fun of someone
• offensive comments, insults or jokes about someone and their family because of their race, culture, religion, disability or sexuality
• mean comments about someone's body or physical characteristics such as their weight or height
• hurtful comments about the way someone looks or behaves

Social bullying

This involves hurting someone's relationships or reputation. It includes:

• ignoring or leaving someone out on purpose
• telling others not to be friends with someone
• spreading rumours about someone
• embarassing someone in public
• sharing information or images that will have a harmful effect on the other person
• telling lies or stories about someone to make others not like them.

Effects of Bullying

Bullying can affect everyone—those who are bullied, those who bully, and those who witness bullying. Bullying is linked to many negative outcomes including impacts on mental health, substance use, and suicide. It is important to talk to kids to determine whether bullying or something else is a concern.

Kids Who Are Bullied 

Kids who are bullied can experience negative physical, social, emotional, academic, and mental health issues. Kids who are bullied are more likely to experience:

• Depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy. These issues may persist into adulthood.
• Health complaints
• Decreased academic achievement—GPA and standardized test scores—and school participation. They are more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school.

Kids Who Bully Others

Kids who bully others can also engage in violent and other risky behaviors into adulthood. Kids who bully are more likely to:

• Abuse alcohol and other drugs
• Get into fights, vandalize property, and drop out of school
• Engage in early sexual activity
• Have criminal convictions and traffic citations as adults 
• Be abusive toward their romantic partners, spouses, or children as adults

Bystanders

Kids who witness bullying are more likely to:

• Have increased use of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs
• Have increased mental health problems, including depression and anxiety
• Miss or skip school

How to Prevent Bullying?

Parents, school staff, and other caring adults have a role to play in preventing bullying. They can: 

• Help kids understand bullying. Talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely. Tell kids bullying is unacceptable. Make sure kids know how to get help.
• Keep the lines of communication open. Check in with kids often. Listen to them. Know their friends, ask about school, and understand their concerns.
• Encourage kids to do what they love. Special activities, interests, and hobbies can boost confidence, help kids make friends, and protect them from bullying behavior.
• Model how to treat others with kindness and respect.