Bullying At School: Part II

According to Stacy DeBroff, you hear of fewer and fewer behavior problems today because principals, are applying a lot of pressure on the the teachers to keep behavior under control. Teachers often are unaware of the extent to which social problems plague their schools because

most bullying occurs on the playground or after school.

Teachers tend to notice the most trouble making and visible bullies, like those who disrupt class and end up in physical confrontations. Bullying among girls escapes the attention of teachers even more because it is often quieter, less disruptive, and nonphysical.

The tragic events at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, brought the damaging effects of bullying to national attention. Today, students have cyber-bullying, where facebook and social networking can embarrass and humiliate students. More than 60% of victims report that their schools responded poorly or not at all when notified of bullying behaviors. This response may b a result of the fact that parents, teachers, and principals generally underestimate the extent of bullying in their school communities. Parents do not want their child to be either a bully or a victim, and tend to ignore situations of social conflict. Schools must respond aggressively to bullying and make sure the victims of bullying feel safe and the bully understands the behavior will not be tolerated.