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When Your Child is the Bully

June 29, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Physical bullying at school, as depicted in th...

Having your child be subject to teasing and bullying while at school can be heart-breaking for most parents. The feelings of helplessness often overwhelm parents and leave them unable to assist their child in coping with and solving the problem. However, the situation can be even more difficult for parents who discover that it is their child who is doing the bullying. When kids bully others at school, daycare or in other situations, parents often fail to recognize the signs. They may even praise their children for ”standing up for themselves” or ”not taking guff” from other kids. When they are forced to realized that their child’s behavior is unacceptable, they often blame themselves.

Of course, applying blame isn’t helpful and only diverts attention from the real issue, which is responsibility. When parents take responsibility for what they are teaching their children, they are also helping kids take responsibility for their own actions. This cycle is much more conducive to interrupting the trend of bullying and related school violence and is much healthier for all parties involved.

If your child is exhibiting bullying behavior, you must take immediate steps to stop this. Once you feel you have convinced the child that what he is doing is wrong, take a look at some possible causes for his behavior. You may need to consider counseling or at the very least schedule some conferences with his teachers, principal or guidance counselor. Your child needs to understand that bullying is a serious problemand that you are committed to helping him stop.

Filed Under: School Violence, Students Tagged With: Bullying, Child, Parent

Setting the Right Example

May 25, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

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Discipline is an important aspect of life and it is something that is inculcated from a young age both at home and at school. No matter which way you look at it, discipline is an important aspect to growing into a mature individual. The one problem with discipline is that there is a fine line between what is good discipline and what is not. Research as well as several debates and studies have been conducted from the perspective of parents as well as educationists.

Several schools adhere to certain methods. These range from specialized attention, counseling, heart-to-heart sessions and more. The concept of discipline in the olden ages was one of strict dictatorship. Nobody in the classroom was allowed to make noise or move out of turn. Perhaps, that is why we have a generation of adults who are strict disciplinarians to the point of a being a little feared. However, times have changed and students require a more delicate approach.

The amount of exposure children have, thanks to the media and other technological developments, has led to several misconceptions. While at times, they may be lucky to have their doubts clarified by the right authorities, at other times, their information is a bit warped and this can lead to issues of discipline. Unfortunately, entertainment often exposes children to glorification of wrong deeds. This leads to misunderstandings among children who are of an impressionable age.

According to most studies, the best road take is discipline by example. Children tend to imitate what they see around them and the simplest way to get the job done is to behave the way you want them to.

Filed Under: Discipline, Education Tagged With: Child, Discipline, Education

How Teachers Can Help to Stop Bullying

February 23, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Often, a teacher has more contact with a child than anyone else in the school or even the child’s parents. Because of this, teachers can play a large part in helping to stop bullying behaviors. In some respects, it may seem unfair that a teacher should have to address this type of issue on top of everything else she is doing. Teaching classes and making sure that children are ready for standardized tests is a large enough load. Adding a counseling component to the job may seem like overkill. Still, there are things that teachers can do to keep a classroom bully from gaining power.

Treat Everyone Equally and With Respect

Children who are bullied often share similar traits. They do not defend themselves. They may be shy or smaller in size. It may also be that they do have characteristics that other children might consider unattractive or odd. The role of the teacher in the classroom is to treat everyone equally. A teacher who bullies an odd child sets a precedent that someone who doesn’t fit in should be dealt with aggressively. By treating all students with an equal amount of respect, the teacher sets the standard in the classroom that aggressive behaviors will not be tolerated.

Address Bullying Problems Immediately

Teachers can sometimes be so overwhelmed with their responsibilities that they overlook certain bullying behaviors. Allowing an aggressive child to continuously make fun of another child in the classroom only perpetuates the behavior. Some children with bullying tendencies might be attractive or funny and have followers. Other children may laugh at their jokes because they do not want to be the next victim. The task of the teacher in these situations is to curb the behavior early on. Those who bully lack empathy and need to learn this quality. Sending a bullying child to the school counselor right away is one way to keep the problem from snowballing.

Filed Under: Students, Teachers Tagged With: Bullying, Child, Teacher

Bullying is Violence

December 26, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

There are usually a few bullies to contend with in most schools. Unfortunately, in many cases bullying is not addressed quickly enough. Many children suffer fear and humiliation each day they attend school. While most bullying involves taunting and picking on another child, it is also accompanied by threats of physical violence. In many cases, children endure physical abuse. Bullying has often been overlooked, and now school administrators are classifying this as violent behavior whether the abuse is mental or physical. Most bullying occurs between classes, on the playground and during lunch. It is the responsibility of the school administrators and teachers to pay attention to such behavior. Many schools have instituted anti-bullying policies with specific protocols to address the situation effectively. In some areas of the United States, many schools are now required to report any activity of violence to the authorities. School administrators have recognized bullying leads to physical violence and have acknowledged the responsibility of the school administration to provide a safe environment. Many schools have instituted policies in which the parents of the victim and offender are immediately notified of the situation. Parental involvement is critical for both the victim and the offending bully. Disciplinary action is immediate and includes suspension and expulsion. In addition, the children and parents may be required to take courses such as anger management. Such policies are effective if the victim comes forward to report the bullying. However, in most cases, the victim is fearful of reporting such an incident. While school administrators are developing policies to address school violence, many children still suffer humiliation and threats. This not only impacts the child’s ability to learn it also diminishes the child’s self-esteem. It is important to let children know that bullying will not be tolerated. It is also important to let victims know when they report bullying, they will not have to fear retaliation.

Filed Under: School Violence Tagged With: Bullying, Child, School violence, United States, Violence

School Violence Requires Action From Schools, Parents and Community

December 24, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

School administrators across the country; have begun to institute no tolerance policies to combat increasing violence within the school system. While the policies vary between states and school districts, it is a concerted effort to provide a safe educational environment for students. However, schools are still struggling with violence. Providing solutions and instituting new policies can be costly. Many school budgets are stretched to the limits. Class sizes continue to grow and teachers find it difficult to manage these burgeoning class sizes. There are numerous published studies on the growing problem of school violence. Ultimately, poor behavior in children begins in the home. Many children live in poverty, abusive homes and witness violence in the home or in their neighborhoods. This behavior will often manifest while the child is at school. School administrators have the difficult task of relating to children that are raised in bleak circumstances. The lack of parental support and involvement is crippling. While some schools experience little school violence, many schools must deal with violence daily. In the most violent schools, there are security guards, metal detectors and locked down lunches. This does not create a pleasant environment for educational purposes. Unfortunately, these measures do nothing to solve the root of the problem. Children are becoming more violent and the school system is unable to solve the problem without the support from parents and the community. To gain control of this growing problem, school administrators, parents and the community must become actively involved. Disciplinary action taken by the school system are ineffective unless the parents support the action and reinforce these actions within the home. Communities must understand that supporting the school system is crucial. School funding continues to suffer budget cuts while class size continues to increase. To establish safer schools, funding issues must be resolved.

Filed Under: School Violence, Students Tagged With: Child, School, School violence, Violence

The Power of School Assemblies Against Bullies

December 19, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Schools across the country have recognized that bullying is a serious offense. With school violence increasing, many schools and communities are implementing programs to end school bullying. School administrators in many parts of the country are empowering children with tools to protect themselves and others against bullies. In addition, many educators are receiving much needed training in recognizing that teasing and taunting is a painful experience for any child. In the past, bullying has been treated lightly. Today, school administrators have developed policies and procedures to address bullying with immediate action.

Children can report bullying and remain anonymous without fear of retaliation. School administrators have realized they must create trust among their students and provide a safe avenue for children to report offenses. Many schools have developed mandatory education classes to educate children on bullying and why it is wrong. One of the most effective tactics has been school assemblies. Gathering the students in an auditorium to discuss bullying has proven to be quite effective. Most bullies come from home environments where they are being bullied or they bully to gain notoriety and become popular. This public discussion of bullying often embarrasses bullies and empowers other students with the knowledge that a bully is not cool at all, but a sad individual that needs help.

Bullies try to impress their friends by taunting other children. They want to be noticed and recognized. School assemblies that focus on the subject of bullying, have effectively diminished the power of bullies. This creates an environment where bullies are viewed as undesirable individuals instead of popular. These assemblies empower other children with knowledge and tools to prevent bullying. It has also created an environment in which victims have a voice and gain the support of their fellow students. These assemblies have inspired students to develop student groups committed to protecting and helping fellow students that are being bullied.

Filed Under: School Violence, Students Tagged With: Bullying, Child, School bullying, Student

A Child is Bullied Every Seven Minutes

December 18, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

The increase of violence among youths is troubling and disturbing. Unfortunately, this violence is often perpetrated in school. This has caused an environment to develop in which some children fear attending school. Statistically, a child is bullied every seven minutes. Creating a safe environment for children to be educated is a challenge in many schools. The role of school administration has changed from providing a good education to combating school violence. Many schools have recognized the emotional and physical abuse that occurs in schools daily. Thousands of children dread attending school for fear of being bullied.

Many children will miss school because they are so fearful of being bullied. At least eight percent of children miss at least one day per month because they are afraid to attend school. Over 43 percent of children are terrified of using the restrooms at school because they are more likely to be harassed in the school restrooms. Many children are harassed or bullied on school playgrounds. Sadly, over 85 percent of the time, there is no intervention by teachers or peers. The problem is compounded by staggering statistics that indicate an argument with a bully results in physical violence 80 percent of the time.

School administrators find themselves scrambling to provide solutions for this growing problem. Many children suffer silently at the hands of a bully for fear of retaliation if they report the incident. Many schools have instituted confidentiality policies to encourage students to report bullying. Many schools have instituted policies of immediate expulsion and reporting the violent behavior to local authorities.

While many schools struggle to prevent school violence, children continue to be bullied and tormented. This growing problem not only causes harm physically and emotionally, it prevents children from obtaining an education. It makes learning difficult because many children dread and fear attending school.

Filed Under: School Violence, Students Tagged With: Bullying, Child, School, School violence

A Parent’s Guide to Helping a Child Cope With Bullying

December 16, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

While schools struggle to provide a safe educational environment, many children continue to be afraid of going to school. School administrations across the country are beginning to address bullying with stricter disciplinary acts in an effort to make attending school safe and enjoyable for children. However, these efforts are only effective if children come forward to report bullying. Most children are afraid that the bullying will become worse if they report it. Many parents are unaware that their child is being bullied. There are several warning signs and many things a parent can do to help their child.

The fist warning sign that your child may be taunted by a bully is the child’s unwillingness to go to school. The child may attempt to fake an illness so he or she can stay home from school. While this is a warning sign that is often over looked, it is important for a parent to question and investigate why their child does not want to attend school. If your child is adamant about not attending school one day, allow your child to stay home. If you can, spend the day with your child, begin a conversation with your child about why they do not want to go to school. Above all, let your child know that you love him or her. Allow your child to talk and assure your child you are there to help. If you child confides in you that he or she is being bullied, immediately contact school officials to file a complaint. These complaints are handled in a confidential manner. You child’s teachers will be made aware of the situation and will monitor the situation closely. Talk with your child daily and let your child know that he or she is not to blame.

Protecting children from bullying is a challenge that many parents face. Developing open communication with your child will help him or her feel more secure knowing you are there to help.

Filed Under: School Violence, Students Tagged With: Bullying, Child, Parent, Violence and Abuse

School Bullying and Child Suicide

December 13, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

While many schools have developed anti-bullying policy, the bullying continues and many children have committed suicide. Suicide among young children was once a rare occurrence. So rare, the Center for Disease Control did not track suicide among young children. However, as violence among children increases so does suicide. School administrators have adopted stringent anti-bullying policies, however, the bullying continues on social networking sites. Children feel so helpless, they feel the only option for relief is suicide. Children as young as eleven years old have committed suicide because they could no longer cope with being bullied.

While school administrators recognize that bullying is a violent crime, they struggle to develop effective methods to prevent it. Protecting children from bullies is difficult for school officials and parents. The abuse occurs daily and is relentless. Social media sites have opened additional avenues for bullies to inflict harm on their victims. Children are terrified to speak up and most suffer silently. Bullies threaten children with physical harm and even death.

Many parents are shattered when they learn the misery their child had to endure. Much of the bullying is not perpetrated by one person. One child was bullied by a group of at least six people. She was bullied everyday at school, on her way home from school and on social networking sites. She eventually committed suicide at the age of 15. The six bullies are currently charged with contributing to her death.

It is time for communities, schools and parents to recognize that bullying is a violent crime that must be addressed immediately. Children must be provided a safe way to report such incidence and if necessary, be allowed to transfer to a different school. It is also important to recognize that group bullying is a growing trend and youth violence continues to grow.

Filed Under: Administration, School Violence, Students Tagged With: bully, Child, Social network service, Suicide

Administrative Responsibilites and School Violence

December 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

In the war on school violence, counselors can play an integral part in assisting the potentially violent student. However, before they can assist a troubled student, counselors need to recognize signs of violent students. Then, the counselor will need to take steps toward helping the student re-establish lost connections, control feelings of anger, and acknowledge the worth of every single being. Identifying a Potentially Violent Student Although counselors will depend heavily on teachers to point out troubled students, counselors should also watch for any signs of violent tendencies, such as the following: – Feeling outcast or alone – Not identifying with a group/not having many or any friends – Fighting or arguing often – Taking risks – Vandalizing property – Hurting animals – Planning to hurt others – Drug or alcohol abuse – Fascination with weapons – Decreased grades/poor performance – Distancing oneself from former friends or activities Addressing Troubled Students Students leaning toward violence should be addressed as soon as the counselor is aware of the child’s tendencies. The child should be removed from class, and a thorough psychological assessment should be administered. A student who is a danger to himself or to others should be taken to the appropriate care facility immediately. A child who is not an immediate danger can receive school attention and guidance. The counselor should address the student’s issues through standard protocol and follow up as necessary. Also, involving the parents is one key toward the child’s recovery. By showing parental concern and adult involvement, the parents and counselor can together influence a child away from violent tendencies. Recent research has also suggested that developing analytical-thinking skills in children can decrease violent tendencies. A child who can solve a problem by thinking outside the box will feel more able to address issues in a non-violent manner. Overall, a child with violent tendencies can begin to think in a non-violent manner with the proper direction and parental participation.

Filed Under: Administration, School Violence Tagged With: Child, Parent, Student, Violence