What is Bullying? Understanding, Responding and Preventing Bullying in Schools
What is bullying?
Bullying is a word that is used with a lot of meanings. Making sure everyone in your school shares the same definition of bullying is essential. Sometimes things that are called bullying are not really bullying at all. The national definition of bullying for Australian schools is the first place to look. Including the definition of bullying in the relevant school policy helps to ensure shared understanding within the whole school community. The policy could also include definitions of harassment, discrimination and violence. Bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence are all interpersonal behaviors that can create or contribute to negative social situations and school environments. Ensuring a shared definition of bullying is important. A shared understanding of bullying is the starting point for effectively preventing and responding to bullying in your school. Preventing bullying involves everyone talking together openly and respectfully. Bullying can have a lasting impact on everyone involved, including those who witness it, so it is important to work together to create safe school communities for everyone.
Understanding bullying is complex. It resists simplistic ideas and solutions. Knowing exactly what bullying is and understanding why it happens are critical to finding positive and lasting solutions for everyone involved. Students can play various roles within the bullying dynamic. Understanding the peer group is central to understanding bullying. Some students seem to be more likely to be involved, depending on the school and the broader context. Bullying of any form or for any reason can have long-term negative impacts on everyone involved, including bystanders. Intervening appropriately to respond to or prevent bullying is very important. A good starting place for understanding bullying is to ask students. Their ideas may be different from what adults assume. Dealing with bullying involves tapping into their motivations and understandings of the social situation. The reasons for bullying will be found below the surface by investigating issues of power, norms and social status, tolerance and diversity. Exploring these areas and how they influence students' interactions and behavior can provide essential insights into the most appropriate responses by parents and carers, and the school.
Responding to bullying
School processes for managing bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence are key to providing a safe and supportive school environment. Responding to incidents in a constructive, supportive and timely manner is critical. It is vital that schools include restoring relationships and teaching about appropriate ways to relate to others in their responses. Parents or other carers are often the first person that a child tells about bullying at school. Sensitive and respectful responses by parents can make a difference. Parents working together with the school is the best way to stop the bullying from happening again. Ensuring that students know how to report bullying can reduce the chance of bullying going unreported or students being reluctant to tell someone. Encouraging students to report bullying helps schools to gain a more accurate picture of bullying in their community and provide help where it is needed.
Preventing bullying
We all want Australian schools to be safe, supportive and respectful teaching and learning communities that promote student wellbeing. Safe and supportive schools require planning and a focus on the principles and effective practices that promote safe and supportive school communities provided in the National Safe Schools Framework. Components of planning include school policy, comprehensive school audits and providing training and supporting school staff. Schools can adopt a number of strategies and approaches to create safe and supportive school communities where everyone feels safe, supported and respected. What works outlines the evidence-based approaches to countering bullying and fostering online safety. As well as the broad strategies that work to prevent bullying, schools may want to adopt additional approaches and programs for their specific needs. The STEPS decision-making tool helps schools to select the most appropriate evidence-based approach for their goals.
Teaching about bullying
Talking and teaching about bullying through everyday opportunities is the best way to make it clear that bullying is never ok. Talking about bullying means it can't be hidden or overlooked in the busy school or family day. Conversations provide opportunities for students to raise issues that adults may not have noticed, and to discuss concerns before they become long-term and entrenched. Working in the classroom requires selecting appropriate teaching resources and a pedagogical approach that incorporates critical thinking and reflection, scaffolded questioning, and strategies for responding promptly to any personal disclosures. Teaching about bullying is ideally part of a comprehensive safe schools curriculum. Learning about feelings, social interaction, diversity, social structures, discrimination, justice, power and conflict provide opportunities to explore the issue of bullying, why it happens and how to prevent it. Start early with children at home and in early childhood educational settings by regularly talking about feelings, how to behave and how to get on with other children.
Parents and early childhood educators have a central role in fostering positive social and emotional skills in young children.
Source: Bulling. No Way! Access at: https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/
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