Bullying at School
Remember that old schoolyard jingle, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”? That was not and certainly is not the truth today. Many children say they have been bullied or teased.
Bullying and teasing are similar, but one of the key differences between them is intention. Teasing becomes bullying when it is a repetitive behavior with the conscious intention to harm or hurt another child. Bullying is one of the largest problems in schools; it can make the victim kids feel hurt, scared, lonely, embarrassed, and sad.
Bullying at school often results in kids being fearful of and unwilling to attend school. Bullying victims may use the following tips in dealing with school bullies:
Tell your parent(s) about the bullying. If you are being bullied, it’s very important to tell an adult first and foremost.
Tell your parents the entire story. Parents are there to help, and they want to know what is going on with you. Your parents, moreover, may then be able to get in touch with the staff at school in order to try to stop the bullying. This is important particularly if you don’t feel comfortable telling your teacher or fear retribution from the bully.
It’s useful if you keep a diary of everything that happens. That way you can let your parents and other adults know about specific incidents.
Report bullying incidents to the school officials. Inform teachers, principals, and other school staff. These individuals have the power to intervene and help stop the bullying. Sometimes bullies stop as soon as a teacher finds out because they’re afraid they’ll get in trouble.
Teachers are especially important resources if you’re being bullied. They can provide you protection from bullying by letting you stay in the classroom during recess or by setting up a buddy system on your behalf.
It’s important to let your school know about any bullying incidents because there may be other kids being bullied by the same person.
Talk openly about bullying. Just talking to someone about your experience can bring you a bit of relief. Good people to talk to include a guidance counselor, sibling, or friend. They may offer some helpful solutions, but should not be approached in lieu of telling your parents or school personnel. Just talking about what you’re experiencing and feeling can help you feel less alone.
Don’t be afraid to speak up. Bullying is not a small or trivial matter; it is wrong and it helps if everyone who gets bullied or witnesses someone else being bullied speaks up.
Remember that you cannot tackle bullying by yourself. No one can, sometimes not even adults. Getting help is the right thing to do when dealing with abuse, bullying, harassment, or assault. feel confident and good about yourself. It is also something you can practice. Practice walking with your head up, looking at people, and greeting anyone you know who looks back at you. Practice using a strong and assertive tone of voice (and not shouting). Remember, practice makes perfect.
4. Use the buddysystem. If you’re trying to avoid being bullied, two people are stronger than one. For example, walk with a friend or a group of friends to school, or hang out with them at recess. In other words, make sure to have friends surrounding you wherever and whenever you think you might run in to the bully.
If you have a buddy, remember to be a buddy. Offer to be there for a friend if you know he or she has bully trouble. Act if you see a friend being bullied; after all, you know how hard it is to be bullied. Tell an adult, stand with your friend being bullied, and tell the bully to stop. Support those you see being hurt with words of kindness.
5. Ignore the bully if they say or do something to you. As much as you can, try to ignore the bully’s threats. Pretend you can’t hear them and try to leave the situation immediately and go to a safe place.
Bullies are always looking for a reaction to their teasing. Pretending that you don’t notice or care (even if you do care on the inside) may stop a bully’s behavior because they are not getting the reaction they expect and want.