WHERE DOES BULLYING HAPPEN?

Bullying is prevalent in schools – that’s already a given fact. But do we really know where these incidents happen, and how often they transpire?

According to statistics, around 5 percent of students faced physical forms of bullying like pushing, shoving or tripping, while those who experienced verbal and relational bullying like being made fun of, being called names or being insulted number 13 percent. Those who were subject of rumors number around 12 percent.

Digital bullying, however, has not “developed” in spite of the use of technology of children. There are reports of online harassment, but bullying in school happens more often. Girls who were harassed online were 15.9 percent, while boys, 6.1 percent.

While in school, it was learned that bullying oftentimes happen along hallways and stairwells – transitional areas that are fast-moving. These areas dominate the landscape of student harassment.

According to reports, 42 percent of students reported being bullied in hallways or stairwells. Incidents outside the school grounds are lower at 19.3 percent; 9.4 percent in a bathroom, 22.2 percent in school cafeteria, 10 percent on a school service.

Surprisingly, 34 percent reported bullying incidents in the classroom – which is quite alarming. This means that teachers hardly see what happens during transitional moments within a class as students arrived, settled in, transitioned between activities, and then exited.

The problem is indeed complex, one that that somehow shifted responsibility away from teachers and administrators, with emphasis on the positive effects of school-wide cultural transformations.

Schools should develop a clear code of conduct to empower teachers and especially students to help enforce it. This is also to socialize the message through activities like all-school assemblies and maybe art contests that highlight school values.

There is also the importance of establishing allies, including administrators, students, teachers, parents, and even unaffiliated citizens - a more holistic, school-and-environs approach – against the bullying menace.

Schools adopt different models of bullying prevention, but they should be mindful to keep an eye on hallways and stairwells, which are most likely the sources of bullying, other than the cafeteria, playground, or bathrooms.

Supervision and vigilance in between classes are key to protecting vulnerable students. — oOo— The author is Teacher 3 at Dolores Elementary School