“For me, I am driven by two main philosophies: know more today about the world than I knew yesterday and lessen the suffering of others. You’d be surprised how far that gets you.”
You just have read the words of Neil deGrasse Tyson; as a teacher, you must have this attitude, especially in this scenario when bullying has spread its filthy wings all over the free sky of childhood.
Now tell me how many of you didn’t feel sorry about the kid being bullied in Eminem’s No Love, we all did, but not all the kids got supercomputer tricks or will to fight bullies so this is where you as a teacher step up.
What is bullying anyway?
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behaviour among that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The action is repeated, both for kids, the victim and the bully may have severe, lasting problems.
All ears
Yes, you have to act a bit like Sherlock; you have got to be a little informative about the isolated students and the bullies.
Students who stay alone, are new in town or/and eats alone are usually the one who is feeling isolated, these kids are easy prey for the bullies.
Because bullying usually happens in the hallways, bathrooms, school buses and crowded hallways etc. you as a teacher now got to have all the information about what’s going on in these areas.
Intervene
As soon as you see someone being bullied, intervene, but not in a conventional manner, brazen out the bully in front of his/her peer may lead to some more aggressive behavior.
Talk to them differently
Talk to both parties, but separately, it, by, and primarily doesn’t go well when a teacher tries to sit both sides together; bully and the victim.
It may escalate the anger in bully and will turn out to be quite an embarrassing sitting.
Involve the parents
More often than not bullying is just an outcome of a broken home, domestic violence or emotional instability. Talk to the parents; let them know what their child is going through.
Make sure that they take it seriously, both the bully’s family and the victim’s family, you cannot be around both parties all the time, but their parents are a significant influence on them, spend the majority of the time with them and can find answers.
Install bully box
It is something that will encourage the victims to at least make an effort, most of the bullies strive on the mum of victims, it could be challenging for a victim to speak up, and so these boxes may help.
Install them in the bathrooms, the hallways and around classes.\
Silver lining
Every then and now pump up your students with an anecdote or a story about any personality who stood up against the bullying.
Communication is the only way the students would find a way out of this jive called bullying.
