Bullying Programs for Schools — Why is It a Necessity NOW?

1. Bullying Programs for Schools – Why is It a Necessity NOW? Bullying at school has become a common and widespread problem. Aggressive or subtle, bullying at schools can lead to long-lasting psychological, emotional, and physical problems in children being bullied. This emphasizes on the need for bullying programs for schools. So, what defines bullying? Bullying is a behavioral issue related to social and emotional learning. It includes a repeated aggressive behavior accompanied by power imbalance and intent to cause harm. In contrast to being destructive and persistent, some bullying activities can be subtle enough to stay unnoticed. In order to help the bullies and the children being bullied in an effective manner, schools should lay out a defined structure for the bullying program. Understand the Bullying Behavior The first step is to understand the bullying behavior in students. Bullying may be direct or indirect.  Direct Bullying- It involves physical (harming a student or his possessions) and verbal bullying (passing spoken or written comments that cause emotional damage).  Indirect Bullying- It is verbal in nature and deep-rooted in the school environment. Indirect bullying involves behavior such as spreading false information about a student with an intention to cause humiliation. The increased use of technology has given birth to cyberbullying in students. The behavior involves the use of social media platforms to cause intentional humiliation to other students. Observe the Students

2. An understanding of bullying behavior in students should be followed by diligent observation to identify any signs that suggest that a student is participating in bullying or is being bullied. It requires equal participation from teachers and parents. Hosting regular sessions for parents should be an integral part of bullying programs in schools. The sessions should cover topics such as ‘Signs That My Child Is a Bully,’ ‘Signs That My Child Is Being Bullied,’ ‘Early Signs Of Bullying Behavior in Students,’ etc. Tip Sheet to Identify If Your Child Is a Bully  Positive feedback towards violence  Aggressive behavior  Intentions to control and dominate  Behavioral elements such as short temper, impulsiveness, and irritability  Breaking rules frequently Tip Sheet to Identify If Your Child Is Being Bullied  Frequently torn, damaged, or missing clothes, books, etc.  Refrains from talking about cuts, bruises, or other injuries  Avoids going to school Address the Behavior  Behavioral signs including anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, etc. The question that forms the foundation of every school bullying program is ‘How to Stop  A Sudden decrease in school grades Bullying at School.’ First step towards stopping bullying at school is to understand the cause that drives the bullying behavior in students. Some common reasons why a child bullies are:  Students with low self-esteem may indulge in bullying to keep others away  Lack of compassion & empathy  Bullying may be a reflex action when a student feels threatened in any way  A desire for attention can also lead to bullying behavior  Despair, anger, or jealousy due to domestic issues can result in bullying behavior

3. Once the root cause for bullying is identified, specific steps should be taken to address the behavior.  Schools should have well-defined and strict anti-bullying policies  Integrate bullying prevention in the curriculum in form of study material, novels, acts, etc.  Make use of fictional characters to help students understand positive and negative behavioral characteristics  Include behavioral teaching at an elementary level to inculcate the positive characteristics in students  Involve the parents to ensure that the root behavior is addressed While strict measures are necessary to stop bullying at school, it is important to ensure that the students should not feel insulted as it may elevate the bullying behavior.