According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than one in four students report having been bullied at school. And yet just 20–30 percent of bullied students notify adults, so the onus is largely on teachers and faculty members to be able to identify and stop this behavior – a daunting task, considering the workload. Bullying can lead to devastating results if the student who is getting bullied doesn’t get some much needed support, so it is imperative that the bullying stops before it starts to affect the student’s school and home life.
Most bullying in the U.S. takes place in schools, outside on school grounds or on the school bus. Overall, 70.6 percent of students say they’ve witnessed bullying in their schools. When adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior, they send the message that it is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.
Research shows that action by adults can greatly reduce bullying behavior over time, but it is important to know what to look for and how to help when you do find a student being bullied. Here are some ways to identify, stop and prevent bullying so your students can enjoy happier, healthier school careers without the fear of being harassed.
As a teacher, you are the first line of defense against bullying. Preventing bullying and protecting your more vulnerable students from harassment is essential. It is important to know what you’re looking for — bullying is formally described as unwanted aggressive behavior with a perceived power imbalance.
Students don’t just get bullied in the classroom. There are several different ways bullying can be classified, these are:
Effective prevention of bullying starts with a positive classroom environment. When students feel safe and know that their problems matter, they will be more likely to share if they are being bullied. Make yourself available for them to open up and try to make them as comfortable as possible for doing so.
No matter the age of your students, having frank discussions about bullying is incredibly important. Showing students what bullying looks like may stop them from participating in it or even help out if they see it happen. Teach your students why bullying is bad, the consequences and why you will not tolerate it in your classroom.
Make sure you know how your particular school deals with the different kinds of bullying. Send out a newsletter or email to your class highlighting this policy and letting students and parents know you do not tolerate bullying in your space. Do not be afraid to enact the policy if you see bullying. Reporting it and acting fast can save lives.
Since only around 20 to 30% of bullied students actually tell their teacher or other adult about being harassed, you can’t wait for students to come to you. Be proactive and look for the warning signs in your students. Children who may be being bullied may exhibit poor self-esteem, have lost or damaged belongings, mysterious injuries, be late or miss class altogether and exhibit poor grades or loss of interest in class.
For signs of cyberbullying, look for increases or decreases in device use, students hiding their screen when others are near, or other changes related to discomfort or frustration with their devices.
Your students can be an essential part in helping to prevent bullying in the classroom. An effective way to prevent bullying in schools is to empower students to break the cycle by teaching them the ways to confront bullying behaviors. It is of great importance that if the student does confront their bully, they do it without any emotion or aggression, because it shows that they’re no longer a victim. More importantly, teaching kindness and empathy is of the utmost importance — those lessons can carry on well into adulthood.
You have enough work on your plate aside from being vigilant in preventing bullying in (and out) of your classroom. Planning lessons, vetting and acquiring additional materials, and managing your curriculum to accommodate your students is more than a full-time job. We’re here to help.
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