Gurushala

Classroom Learning

Role of Teachers in Preventing Bullying

Preventing and eliminating bullying at school is an important responsibility of a teacher. However, often it is hard for a teacher to deal with the problem of bullying, which is due to a number of factors:

Spotting bullying can be hard because it is difficult to differentiate it from squabbles or normal disagreements between children. Sometimes, real aggression can be perceived as a game
Fighting against bullying is made harder by fallacious beliefs, such as regarding bullying as a natural part of a child’s development (“he’ll grow out of it”, “boys will be boys”, “just don’t pay any attention to it”, etc.)
Bullying is often hidden. Normally, children do not report bullying
Often, we do not know how to respond to bullying

Helping a victim of bullying

Discussing the incidents of bullying
Give the child the opportunity to talk about what happened and how they feel about it. Show sympathy and support. Work out what happened together

Together with the child, talk about how they can stay safe:

- Think about how the child can avoid being in a similar situation in the future.
- Determine how the child will behave if the bullying continues.
- Talk about who the child can go to if the bullying does not stop.

Try to get the bullied child involved in something that will allow them to interact with children their age, in order to help them get support from their peers.

Always try to strengthen a child’s support network by getting his friends and loved ones to help
Keep an eye on how the child is getting on
If necessary, contact the parents and give them an account of what happened and the school’s response.

Helping the bully to change:

It is important to keep in mind that it is not only the victims of bullying but the bullies themselves who need help. First of all, you shouldn’t regard the child’s aggressive behaviour as childish horseplay. When aggressive behaviour is not addressed in time, it can become a lifestyle, and childhood is precisely the right time to address the issue.

Talk with the child openly and try to work out what provoked them to behave aggressively. Sometimes, when children are victims of violence or abuse from their parents or older siblings, they direct their distress and hurt towards other children.

Your efforts should not go into looking for punishment, but instead in trying to change the child’s aggression into socially acceptable behaviour. Often, punishing the aggressor is not effective in stopping him. What’s more important than the punishment, is showing the child that you accept them, but not their aggressive behaviour.

1. In a calm, clear and easy manner, describe the children’s behaviour to them and explain why it constitutes a form of bullying.
2. Calmly explain to the aggressor the effect of his behaviour on the child at the receiving end.
3. Try to figure out what happened (from the child’s perspective).
4. Tell them that this type of behaviour is not acceptable and remind them what type of behaviour is expected.
5. Make them understand their responsibilities and the consequences of their actions (the parents will be informed, they will stay behind a year at school or given a notice, etc.).
6. If you can’t stop the child’s aggressive behaviour, in the worst-case scenario the child should be moved to another school (not the victim, but the aggressor).

About the author

Shweta Jain is working in Pratham Education Foundation and works on aspects of Teacher Support Management for the teacher capacity development portal: Gurushala. Any views expressed are personal.

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