As a public school teacher, the very thought of bullies existing in my classroom was something that never set well in my stomach. I remember seeing one bully in particular, who did not stop at bullying the students, but spent time bullying the teachers as well.
This was not the best of times when I would have to deal with this particular student. I would watch him bully students in my classroom and stating that even though I had seen him do it, he would quote that the broken bones on a student's hand was nothing short of a mere "accident".
Unfortunately, this student went so far as threatening eye-witnesses who were at the scene of each event with thoughts of violence that made some of our students very depressed (including myself). I hope that anyone who has encountered a bully at school or anywhere will not live in fear and will seek help, no matter what the circumstance.
Here are four different ways that teachers can help intervene if there is a case of the "bullies" at school:
Assess the Extent of the Bullying Problem:
- It is wise, almost advisable for any educational professional to determine the extent and the severity of a bully at school. If you proceed to do this please, do so in discretion. Do not make it appear that you are pulliing a student out of a class to talk to them about the accomplice. Make sure that if you do start to investigate, have a group of students write a statement immediately after the event. This will be a more valid way of determining what actually happened.
Ensure That the Class Understands the Definition of 'Bullying'
-This is also an important point. The difference between bullying and "harassment" are so blurred that some parents may call you into question when you begin to document this behavior. If your students do not understand what "bullying" is, hold a class meeting and have them discuss it and create an open forum for this topic. It will set the framework for behaviors that will and will not be tolerated in the classroom.
Confront Students Engaged in Bullying in a Firm But Fair Manner
- This is very important, the way that you confront the bully will actually dictate how the bully will interact with you (and perhaps other adults) when they begin to bully again. Be firm and direct, not accusatory and condemning. Most bullies will not apologize for their actions and equally as sad, may never admit to them either.
Provide Appropriate and Consistent Consequences for Bullying
- Depending on your school, it may be more of an act on the administration than your end if you encounter bullying in a classroom. In my situation, I wrote the "bully" and administrative referral and he was no longer enrolled in my class. He did however, continue to bully three other teachers at the school prior to him leaving...
For more information on bullying, here are some excellent references that you can read:
Batsche, G.M., & Knoff, H.M. (1994). Bullies and their victims: Understanding a pervasive problem in the schools. School Psychology Review, 22, 165-174.
Olweus, D. (1993). Bullying in school: What we know and what we can do. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers.
Snell, J.L., MacKenzie, E.P., & Frey, K.S. (2002). Bullying prevention in elementary schools: The importance of adult leadership, peer group support, and student social-emotional skills. In M.A. Shinn, H.M. Walker, & G.Stoner (Eds.) Interventions for academic and behavior problems: Preventive and remedial approaches. (2nd ed., pp.351-372). Bethesda, MD: National Association of School Psychologists.
US Department of Education (1998). Preventing bullying: A manual for schools and communities. Retrieved 3 April 2003 from: a href="http://www.cde.ca.gov/spbranch/ssp/bullymanual.htm" target="_blank">http://www.cde.ca.gov/spbranch/ssp/bullymanual.htm
If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/. If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.
No comments:
Post a Comment