Keep off the bullies at school

There are several dangers associated with bullying at school. That is why students should avoid associating with bad company and take action by reporting any incidents of violence to the authorities.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Bullying is a form of abuse and should be dealt with in schools.

There are several dangers associated with bullying at school. That is why students should avoid associating with bad company and take action by reporting any incidents of violence to the authorities.

Bullying is a form of abuse. It involves repeated acts over time that attempt to create or enforce one person’s power over another. The victim of bullying is referred to as a target.

Bullying is often rooted in a would-be bully’s inability to empathize with those whom he or she would target. It’s a form of abuse that involves emotional, verbal and physical torment. It typically involves flimsy methods of coercion such as psychological manipulation.

A bully usually uses tactics of constant criticism, isolation, teasing with verbal, psychological, emotional and (especially with children) physical violence.
In most cases when a student bully is called to give an account for their behavior, they will deny the act and feign victimhood as a response to evade accountability.

If a child is exhibiting bullying behavior, the questions to ask are, "why does this child have a lot of internal aggression?” and "why does this child need to displace their internal aggression onto other children?”, or "why has this child not learned how to interact with other children in a non-violent manner?”

When these questions are addressed, it helps to change their behaviour.
School should create an environment where children understand from the moment they start school that bullying, aggression and violence are not acceptable. It is often the absence of such a culture that potential bullies perceive it as acceptance of their aggressive behaviour.

For instance, posters should be hanged all over the school premises denouncing the act; it has to be a practical policy and not just a rule in the school’s Rules and Regulations book.

Most children in society tend to have low self esteem or hate school as result of being bullied. 

Parents should get involved by always talking to their children about what exactly goes on in their life while at school. Helping your child to do homework is not enough.

Dorau20@yahoo.co.uk