There was an interesting article in Education Week at the beginning of this month. In it, the author, Mariam Azin, challenges educators to ask themselves if they are doing everything possible "to prevent toxic and damaging social environments" that lead to severe consequences from bullying like suicide and other self-harming behaviors.
I agree with everything Azin says. While the first priority for helping kids who are bullied often lies with parents, educators are not without responsibility. In fact, many states have changed laws regarding bullying to emphasize the important role teachers and administrators play.
After all, teachers, coaches and other school employees are often with kids for more of their waking hours than parents are. And they have the unique advantage of being able to observe kids together at school in ways parents never can, says Azin.
As a result, schools are tasked not only with responsibility to help students learn, but also to keep them safe. And to accomplish this, there are a number of practical things they can do to prevent bullying. The first of which is to take action when bullying is reported.
So many times bullying is dismissed or brushed aside as a "rite of passage." But research has shown that it is anything but natural. In fact, bullying impacts kids well into adulthood. What's more, not addressing bullying as soon as it occurs allows the bullying climate within a school to escalate. Bullies and victims alike begin to assume that no one cares and no one will put an end to it. So it feeds on itself and grows until the entire academic environment is tainted and learning becomes a challenge for all students, including bystanders.
So this school year, I come alongside Azin and challenge educators to review their bullying policies. I encourage them to really think about whether or not they are really doing all they can "to prevent toxic and damaging social environments."
Here are some practical ideas on how teachers and administrators can strive to make their schools bully-free.
- 8 Ways Educators Can Support Victims of Bullying
- 10 Bullying Prevention Goals for Schools
- 10 Facts About Cyberbullying Every Educator Should Know
- How to Make School Buses Bully-Proof
- Bullying Prevention Tips for Recess Monitors
- 15 Ways to Prevent Bullying in Your Classroom
- How Character Education Can Prevent Bullying
- 6 Ways Educators Can Assess Their Bullying Prevention Programs
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