Bullying

What is Bullying?

Bullying is typically a form of repeated, persistent, and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or individuals that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear and distress and/or harm to another person’s body, feelings, self-esteem, or reputation. Bullying occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance (Ontario, 2009).

Based on current characterizations, bullying tends to fall into four main categories: physical, relational, verbal and electronic. Table 1 describe the different categories of bullying (Canadian Council on Learning, 2008).

Table 1: Four Categories of bullying

1. Physical Bullying
1. a. Punching
2. b. Kicking
3. c. Pushing
4. d. Tripping
5. e. Forced confinement
2. Relational Bullying
1. a. Social exclusion
2. b. Spreading rumours
3. c. Gossip
4. d. Sending nasty notes
3. Verbal Bullying
1. a. Name calling
2. b. Verbal intimidation
3. c. Mocking
4. d. Insulting
4. Electronic or “Cyber” Bullying
1. a. Similar to relational and verbal bullying
2. b. Sending false e-mails using the victims names
3. c. Forward private e-mails, pictures or information

(Canadian Council on Learning, 2008)

Causes of bullying

Research show children become bullies due to lack of parental guidance, peer pressure, drugs, and violence in the media. Studies also showed that children coming from families with absentee parents are more likely to become bullies than those children who have very strong family ties. Excellent communication between parents and children can help reduce bullying. Experts believe that children coming from troubled homes often harbour a lot of resentment towards their parents that they tend to show their resentment by picking on the kids at school or at the playground. In most cases, these bullies would pick on the kids whom they either envy or those that are simply too helpless to fight back.

Signs to look for when a child or teen is being bullied

Signs include changes in behaviour, attitude or appearance
Become quiet and withdrawn in class
Poor academic performance
May not want to go to school or may cry or constantly feel sick on school days
Reluctant to take part in activities or social events with other students
Might suddenly begin to lose money or personal items or come home with torn clothes
Teens who are bullied may start talking about dropping out of school

Effects of bullying on victims and aggressors

Bullying in schools across Canada is a major issue and it can lead to serious and lasting harm on the victim as well as the aggressor. Research have shown that students who were bullied on a continuous basis are more likely to experience headaches, stomach aches, backaches or dizziness, as their non-bullied peers (Canadian Council on Learning, 2008). It was also discovered that victims of bullying deal with depression, physical ailments, social anxiety, poor academic performance, and suicide. Also, aggressive bullies can develop problems such as moral disengagement, delinquency, substance abuse, adult criminality, and suicide. Several “studies have shown that bullied students often simply avoid school; between 6 and 8% of students stay away from school because of bullying, and victims of bullying are more likely to drop out of school. Bullied students also report difficulties in concentrating on their school work and obtain lower levels of academic achievement than their non-bullied peers” (Canadian Council on Learning, 2008, p. 3).

Prevention strategy for Bullying

Research has found that one-third of students are being bullied or have bullied someone else. Both the victims and aggressors have been found to suffer a range of psycho-social problems extending into later life. It has been found that a school-wide bullying prevention policy is effective in bullying prevention. Policy/Program Memoranda (PPM) 144 – Bullying Prevention and Intervention, defines the format and requirements of the policy on bullying that schools need to have in place by February 1, 2008. Schools must create a positive school climate as a preventative measure to bullying, requiring that students feel safe, are healthy, and that inclusive relationships are fostered. Students should also be engaged as well as encouraged to be positive leaders. School programs should reinforce bullying prevention measures, and schools must have a safe schools team responsible for school safety.

What teachers can do to prevent bullying?

PPM 144 states that teachers should support the school-wide bullying prevention policies using strategies that focus on developing healthy relationships by including bullying prevention in daily classroom teaching such as books that deal with bullying (Safe Schools, 2006). Teachers need to plan out appropriate and timely responses to bullying, where any intervention is consistent with the progressive discipline approach (Safe Schools, 2006). Early and ongoing interventions may include detentions with positive reinforcement, verbal reminders, review of expectations, meetings with parents, volunteer service to the school community, conflict mediation, peer mentoring, and/or a referral to counselling (Safe Schools, 2006). Teachers need to undergo some training on bullying prevention and intervention, including training on cultural sensitivity and on respect for diversity and special education needs, especially for new teachers (Safe Schools, 2006).

References

Canadian Council on Learning. (2008). Bullying in Canada: How intimidation affects learning. Retrieved November 20, 2009 from http://www.ccl-cca.ca/CCL/Reports/LessonsInLearning/LinL20080320BullyingConcernCanadians.htm

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (1991-2005). The Mental Health and Well Being of Ontario Students. Toronto, ON: Adlaf, E., Beitchman, J., Paglia-Boak, A., Wolfe, D., 5-7.

Ontario. (2009). Bullying: We Can All Help Stop It. Toronto, ON.

Safe Schools. (2006). Safe Schools Policy and Practice: An Agenda for Action. Toronto, ON: Safe Schools Action Team, 6-18.

The Effect of Bullying in School on Children and Adolescents. (n.d.). Retrieved on November 20, 2009 from http://www.parentinged.com/bullying/The-Effect-Of-Bullying-In-School-On-Children-And-Adolescents.html

Resources

Websites:

http://www.bullying.org/htm/main.cfm?content=1060

http://www.kidshelpphone.ca/en/informed/bullying/default.asp?sec=3&sb=2

http://www.bullyingawarenessweek.org/

http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/res/cp/res/bully-eng.aspx#a06

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNeO3dCV8y4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wcx2qM5C4g&feature=related