Bullying
Shore, K. (2009). Preventing bullying: Nine ways to bully-proof your classroom. Education
Digest: Essential Readings Condensed for Quick Review, 75(4), 39-44.
Schoen, S., & Schoen, A. (2010). Bullying and harassment in the united states. Clearing House:
A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 83(2), 68-72.
Fifty percent of today’s children are or have been the victim of bully’s. Each day over 160,000
children find excuses to stay home to avoid being the victim of a bully’s attack. With the growth of
technology, the attacks continue and grow in new ways. Cyber bullying, text bullying are among a
few of our modern ways in which the bully’s task has grown.
Schoen defined bullying as: “a deliberate intent to offend, harm, or embarrass the victim. Second,
the bullying involves repeated aggression toward the individual or group. Third, an imbalance of
power or status is realized or perceived (e.g., strength, age, size, ability, gender). Finally, the form of
aggression varies from direct bullying to indirect bullying. Direct bullying entails physical or verbal
assaults such as hitting, kicking, punching, spitting, threatening, humiliating, and scorning. Indirect
bullying comprises such actions as intimidating someone through gestures or exclusion, spreading
rumors, and insulting through text messaging or e-mailing.”
Bullying seems to have no boundaries. Youth from all racial groups, and socio-economic
backgrounds as well as geographic locations all seem to experience the wrath of bully’s. Girls
experience more verbal forms and boys are the victims of more physical aggression. Physical
aggression seems to increase once the bully reaches middle school age. Children with disabilities
seem have a higher percentage of being victims. Victims of bullies seem to experience anxiety,
depression and even some have thoughts of suicide.
Research has shown that schools can be effective in reducing the incidences of bullying by up to 50
percent. Teachers can use prevention programs and guidance and instruction to the whole class
and greatly reduce the bullying problem. Kenneth Shore has researched bullying and gives advice
on the identification as well as some solutions. Most bullying incidents occur outside the classroom.
Teachers should be on the lookout for behavioral signs of bullying. Some of these include:
frequent school absences
anxiety or fearfulness during class
difficulty focusing
unusual sadness
withdrawal from peers
a decline in academic performance
not eating lunch
avoidance of certain school areas
clingy behavior
frequent visits to the school nurse
torn clothing or bruises.
Shore suggests the following steps to curb bullying behavior in your classroom. The list includes:
1. Foster a climate of cooperation and caring.
2. Catch the bullying student being kind.
3. Hold a classroom meeting early in the year to discuss bullying.
4. Role-play social situations with your students.
5. Closely monitor students who are at high risk for being bullied.
6. Inform other school staff about potential bullying situations.
7. Present classroom lessons that have a bullying theme.
8. Closely supervise areas where bullying is likely.
9. Encourage bystanders to bullying to take action.
Many multi-level programs have been developed, implemented and assessed to deal with the issues
of bullying. Dan Olweus is a researcher and professor at the University of Bergen in Norway. He is
considered an expert in this issue. After much research, he developed a program that targeted the
entire student body. Students are surveyed regarding bullying and the school community members
are trained. School wide rules against bullying are adopted, and a system of supervision is
developed. Rules in the classroom are formed and meetings are held with the parents with follow
up meetings to address issues related to bullying. Olweus’ program has been used with success in
Philadelphia as well as South Carolina.
The “Stop Bullying Now! campaign was developed by Stan Davis and has emerged using many of
the ideas presented by Olweus. The Stop Bullying Now! web site offers a multitude of resources.
The resources include, videos, DVDs, guidebooks, kits, and ideas for organizing events and working
with the local media. Materials are accessible to parents, administrators, educators, health care
providers, and safety professionals.