It is a given that all children and teens cannot learn in a violent environment, like at a school where they are being harassed and bullied. It is up to their school administrators, educators and parents to work together to ensure that this is not the case. According to the HRSA, many schools have taken their responsibility to stop bullying very seriously and have put into place an anti-bullying system of rules and consequences. Several states have passed anti-bullying laws that require public schools to have an anti-bullying program in place. You can request a copy of your schools anti-bullying policies, if it is not already in your student's handbook.
What Can You Expect Administrators, Teachers and Staff at School to Do About Bullying Behaviors?
The sad truth is that bullying does happen and preventative measures do not work at 100%. So parents cannot expect that a school is able to keep bullying from happening. Parents can expect schools to take a proactive approach to bullying. Also, bullying should be dealt with in an immediate and firm manner once they have been made aware of the problem by a student or parent. According to the HRSA:- School staff should investigate the bullying immediately. After investigating your concerns, they should inform you as to what they plan to do about it.
- School staff should never have a joint meeting with your child and the child who bullied them. This could be very embarrassing and intimidating for your child. They should not refer the children to mediation. Bullying is a form of victimization, not a conflict. It should not be mediated.
- Staff should meet with your child to learn about the bullying that he or she has experienced. They should develop a plan to help keep your child safe, and they should be watchful for any future bullying. Educators should assure your child that they would work hard to see that the bullying stops.
- School personnel should meet with the children who are suspected of taking part in the bullying. They should make it clear to these children that bullying is against school rules and will not be tolerated. If appropriate, they should administer consequences (such as a loss of recess privileges) to the child who bullied and notify their parents.
- Educators and parents should be careful not to "blame the victim." Bullying is never the "fault" of the child who is bullied, and he or she shouldn't be made to feel responsible for being bullied. However, if your child is impulsive or lacks social skills, talk with a school counselor. It is possible that some students who are bullying your child are reacting out of annoyance. This doesn't make the bullying right, but it may help to explain why they are being bullied.
- Give the school reasonable time to investigate and hear both sides of the story. Sometimes, a child who bullies will make false allegations about a child as an additional way of bullying them. Educators should not jump to hasty conclusions and assign blame without a thorough assessment of the situation. This entire process should not take longer than a week.
- If bullying continues, write to the school's principal or administrator, and include evidence from your notes to back up your complaint. Putting a complaint in writing is important so there is a record of your concern.
- Most administrators and staff are responsive to bullying concerns. However, if your school administrator is unable or unwilling to stop the bullying, write to your school superintendent for assistance.
- Be persistent. You may need to keep speaking out about bullying that your child experiences.
Quick Links: High School Survival Guide | Quiz: Is your child a bully?
