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School is supposed to be a haven for kids to learn and grow both academically and personally. They come to interact with teachers and their peers and learn valuable skills for life to become better at everything. That’s why it is a serious problem and necessary to have a safe and secure environment for them.
Unfortunately, there are many cases almost every day when kids are bullied into saying things and doing acts that they wouldn’t have done with their free will. It is a form of coercion where the bully extracts pleasure from teasing and harming the bullied.
This is now a fact that those who bully and those who are bullied both suffer from mental and psychological issues.
With the constant tug of war going on between these two groups at school campuses, it is necessary to examine what schools are doing to discourage and eradicate bullying from their premises – for good.
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What Do Schools Do To Prevent Bullying
Bullying is a serious concern. Since it is mostly carried out in or around school premises, it is expected of schools and other educational institutes to erect safeguards for its prevention. Concerned parents and guardians of kids studying at schools are most concerned about their wellbeing, especially if the kids are shy or physically weak. Also, specially-abled kids are the most likely victims of bullying and many sorts of harassment.
Critics of current school structure and administrative practices are of the view that schools are not doing enough to prevent bullying which results in the proliferation of these issues.
In this heading, we intend to go through the causes why bullying occurs and the steps that schools take to prevent the problem of bullying and ensure a safe and accommodating place for them.
Here is a rundown of some of the steps that schools take to prevent bullying and any other coercive and toxic behavior by students:
- Observing the State Laws
- Raising Awareness Among Students
- Practicing Zero Tolerance Policy
- Empowering Students with Responsibility
- Asking Bystanders to Intervene
Now, let us dissect each of the points in detail to get a better view of what it is about and how it will equip them to prevent bullying.
Observing the State Laws
Before we delve into the individual steps that almost every school takes to prevent bullying, it is worth noting that there is a state law that compels schools to formulate an in-house bullying prevention policy.
What each state take on bullying depends upon its specific definition and the large scope of the term, which now often includes, coercion to do acts and say things in school, cyberbullying, sexting, revenge porn, and so on.
In many instances that state laws also discuss and ascertain the involvement of the school even if the act of bullying has happened outside the school premises.
Another major thing to keep in mind is that state laws are not in place to hold perpetrators of bullying accountable through the legal system, rather it is for the school to provide a safe and grooming environment for students to learn.
After going through the scope and limitations of this law, it is evident that this law is seriously hampered in its reach to save a bullied child’s personal live. That’s why it is necessary for schools to only rely on these laws but also make amendments in-house to make sure students have an exceptional environment to thrive.
Raising Awareness Among Students
It is a common sight in schools and other educational institutes to see materials and campaigns discouraging bullying and all sorts of coercion on the premises. Also, schools regularly direct and organize shows and skits where they dramatized the events leading to bullying and its aftermath.
All of these steps are effective in stopping bullying in the light of raising awareness among students on the part of school administrators. This awareness also led bullies to see what their funny and “harmless” jokes can do to the victims. They come to see their peers as truly equals and often become friends.
Although this policy of raising awareness to address bullying and making everyone understand the reasons why bullies bully and what victims endure has its flaws, it is still a great initiative. When this is coupled with strict action, the combination of both hard and soft policies results in a lower frequency of bullying incidents happening in the schools, including physical violence and aggressive behavior.
Apart from schools, several organizations are chipping in their resources to handle bullying in schools. They are using modern means of communication such as social media and online modes to spread the word around.
Practicing Zero Tolerance Policy
Schools are now inclining toward a “zero tolerance” policy toward bullying. This may seem like an extreme measure, but this is surely making a difference and safeguarding the mental and psychological well-being of students who are likely to be bullied.
A part of this policy is taking considerate steps in implementing school uniforms and other rules to accommodate students with any reservations.
This policy has three levels:
- Threat to Use Extreme Measures
- Use of Extreme Measures
- Penalties
Fear of Use Extreme Measures
In their bid to introduce and implement “zero tolerance” like extreme measures to ensure that there are no incidents of bullying inside the premises, schools resort to inducing fear in trouble-makers. This is often met with a mixed response as there is always a group that stands with cordial means of reconciliation.
This group is never pro-bullying but it puts out the idea that bullies are human too and should be dealt with humane manner. That’s why it is necessary to use fear to use extreme measures.
Use of Extreme Measures
When this does not bear fruit, schools resort to extreme measures to severely punish and straighten out culprits. Most of these extreme measures involve around suspending for a couple of days or even expelling trouble-making students from the campuses.
Penalties
Coupled with extreme measures are penalties that come down on culprits. These could include legal actions resulting in community services and other reformation acts to make them realize the evilness of their actions.
Still, there are many issues in this policy, like students of color getting the brunt of the deal or being discriminated against by authorities and school counselors in this regard.
Empowering Students with Responsibility
Bullying is an act of aggression and coercion when there is a power gradient between two parties. These psychological difficulties lead to a string of serious dilemma where it becomes necessary to stop bullying.
Schools deal with the issue of bullying in different ways, one of which is by empowering students to take responsibility on both ends of the spectrum.
The crucial parts of this measure are simple – people in the school who witness bullying should report bullying to the authorities. This is where students learn in becoming equals where there is less gradient of power between the bully and the bullied.
When students who are at the risk of being bullied are empowered, they can face the culprits and let them see the power bestowed upon the weaker ones by the authority of the school.
Again, this approach has chances of unnecessary confrontation, but so far the response to these measures is positive at all levels.
Asking Bystanders to Intervene
This is another step where a diffused authority is present among students where they can make a stand against the culprits.
In many cases, this could backfire because there are a lot of social and societal constraints that stopped students from interfering in these issues.
Empowering bystanders to intervene and report responsibly is a great step in the right direction.
That’s the reason educational institutions should erect a flexible norm on their premises to make students from interfering and taking a stand on the issues that are related to bullying. Another reason why students should be empowered to make a stand is that authorities cannot raid and keep watch on the places that are considered hotspots of bullying in schools. This is what makes this step far more important
No doubt, this policy has its advantages, especially in countries like Finland where most of the population is homogeneous and social construction is not rigid to prevent cyber bullying and all forms of bullying.
Does It Enough To Stop School Bullying?
After all this discussion, the big question remains: “are schools doing enough to prevent bullying?” Although the question may seem simple, the answer is far from simple.
Schools are expected to provide a better and more accommodating environment for other students where they can learn and thrive, both professionally and personally. Bullying by classmates is one of the things that keep students from doing their best.
That’s why school officials must ensure that bullying is not tolerated on a structural level. This requires both legal and administrative structure along with a social rigid structure to prevent these incidents from happening.