NCJ Number
193165
Date Published
1997
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses ways in which schools should approach students and children about the problem of bullying in schools to promote communication.
Abstract
Children’s communication to their teachers and school staff about bullying can be short circuited when students are reluctant to approach them. Children know that bullying is not easy to stop but may be wary about approaching an adult. If an adult sends an ambiguous message to a child, it may discourage them from being forthcoming. Children need to receive sensible, realistic, and appropriate advice about bullying from an adult. Adults should be cautious about suggesting solutions based on their own experiences. To prevent this, schools must develop policies committing everyone in order to reduce the level of bullying. Commitment entails working with students, teachers, and others to determine the extent of bullying. With students’ reluctance to communicate, schools are exploring alternative ways to determine what is happening. The Scottish Council for Research in Education (SCRE) suggested observations of students’ relationships, incident record keeping, having students write stories on bullying and on school safety, and conduct a questionnaire survey as alternative ways to identify bullying. It was recommended that whatever methods were utilized to gather information on bullying the information must be communicated back to the students, parents, and teachers. Students must also see how the information gathered is used. And, if students make suggestions regarding the handling of bullies, teachers need to explain and discuss the reasons why the suggestion was accepted or rejected. If teachers want students to talk about and tell about bullying, then they must show that is a rewarding and relevant thing to do.