Bullying and Violence: An Introduction
“Parents are way overprotective these days; getting picked on by tougher kids and hassling weaker ones is just part of growing up. It’s how they learn to deal with the real world.”
Is it true? Should adults ignore the pecking order of childhood? When are we helping, and when are we ruining our children’s chances of surviving the cold, hard reality of adulthood?
Bullying is a complex social issue. Whether your child is behaving as a bully or feels like a victim—or is simply a bystander while someone else is bullied—it is important to take the situation seriously.
Did You Know?
- Half of public school principals (49%) report that bullying, name-calling, or harassment of students is a serious problem at their school.
- Three-quarters of junior high or middle school principals say that bullying or harassment is a serious problem at their school, compared to 43% of elementary school principals and 45% of senior high school principals.1
What is bullying, anyway? It can be difficult to recognize bullying behavior, particularly when you aren’t seeing it in person. If you’re not sure, try asking yourself these questions, based on information from the U.S. Department of Education:
- Is it intentional? Bullying does not happen by accident. In many cases, the target does not knowingly provoke the bully. The victim may even have made it clear that the behavior is unwelcome, yet the bully persists.
- Is it repetitive? Typically, bullying is repeatedly carried out over time.
- Does it involve hurtful acts, words, or other behavior? Bullying is an oppressive or negative act intended to hurt someone else. It may include many different types of behavior, including physical harm and verbal abuse.
- Is there an imbalance of power? A child without power cannot bully. A bully’s power can come from physical strength, social status, or intimidating behavior.
If you’ve answered yes to at least one of these questions, you may be looking at a case of bullying. Talk to another adult, such as a teacher, playground supervisor, or school counselor, about the situation.
1. GLSEN and Harris Interactive, The Principal’s Perspective: School Safety, Bullying, and Harassment, A Survey of Public School Principals (New York: GLSEN, 2008).
I’m so glad Search Institute is addressing this crucial issue. I trust Search with so many of my questions and concerns, and bullying has been a big one lately. I know I can count on positive advice that doesn’t shame anyone, including the bully. Thanks, Search Institute!
Outstanding information on bullying! The statistics from school personel are amazing!!! Our grandson is entering first grade. He has practiced bullying on a family member. This imformation is being sent the his parents, who have asked me, “What is bullying?”.
glad bullying is recongnized but you don’t provide enough help. The reader has to find there own info. Also, for now bulling mostly happens when an adult is around. Some violence is trinkling in with adults around. Teachers and admininstration are supposed to be adults and yet most sit in lounges and do nothing. The playgrounds are have bullying all the time, nothing is done, except maybe a little “get moving advice”. Cafeterias always have rude actions. For some reason lunch time is a get together for kids thinking there rotten behavior is funny. Which is one of the reason for bullying, the bully is self absorbed and loves the attention. So they bully to feed there own weakness for power. Some power though, they grow up and have a reaping of unhappiness because they have persude life with crap and now crap follows them. Adults who boo hoo about having bad marriages, lost their job, or alcohol is their companion because they still don’t know enough to stop thinking crap, stop being a follower of crap and stop hanging around things and places that just lead to more unhappiness. My old (we left) pastor’s son (believe it or not) was terrible with bullying my daughter. His father was arrogant. The boy learned it all from seeing unhappiness at home. He became an unbearible kid who eventually turned on his father. Bullying also pays a price to the bullier. I have very little tollerance for bullys. Kids walk past my house everyday because school is close by. F this and F that. One day this very aggressive girl was hammering another. I went out and broke it up. The bully went down the street and waited. Started punching all over again. Iwent down and told her I’ve had it with your rotten behavior. I would report her. She said you don’t know my name. I turned to growd and the were more than happy to tell me. I went to school principal and he thought I was a bother to the end of his day. Girl told me later they had to move because bullying was so bad. What do I think, I think bullying is a result of demon attivity. If you believe in angels. You must understand, demons were once angels and now are corrupt. I would pray and pray “in Jesus name with good ministry and tell those spirit to leave, to stop, call them silenced in Jesus name. Hatred comes from darkness, but darkness can not comprhend Light.
Thank God for a site that addresses this issue, my child was bullied throughout junior high, the bullying extended to a new city by some of the same children, crazy huh? The children would admit there deeds to school staff, but the issue of bullying was never addresseed, nor were any parents called. My child has been kicked out of school for fighting many times, fights she never started, but because of mixed martial arts lessons she would finish them. But the bullies would not cease, her friend committed suicide because of the bullying, mentally she could not handle the daily bullying. Kudos to you all, keep up the great work, now with cyber bullies, this site is needed even more. Stay safe and take care. . S. Brown, Michigan