Matthew Lynch: Combating Bullying in America's Schools

Matthew Lynch: Combating Bullying in America’s Schools

With approaches like civility training and developing strong communities, Dr. Matthew Lynch writes that we can effectively combat bullying in US schools.

Bullying is a common problem in schools. Every child either has been bullied or has known someone who has been bullied. Bullying behavior was once considered normal for kids and was not treated seriously. Now however, teasing and bullying are seen as serious issues that can cause psychological damage in those on the receiving end.

Matthew Lynch

These bullying incidents include being made fun of, being the subject of rumors, being pushed, shoved, tripped or spat on, being threatened with harm, being excluded from activities on purpose, being made to do things they did not want to do, and having their property destroyed on purpose.

Other forms of bullying may include name-calling, demanding money or personal belongings, and serious physical assault. Students in a position to easily exert power over another, such as greater physical size or higher social status, commit these acts. Both boys and girls bully others, although generally in different ways. Boys tend to be more physical, whereas girls tend to engage in social and psychological bullying.

Bullying is also no longer confined to the school playground, cafeteria, hallways, or the walk home from school. The newest form of bullying is cyber bullying, which is bullying through the use of electronic media and devices, such as email, text messages, Facebook, Twitter, and/or Internet chat rooms. The online environment is a place where students often have threatening messages sent to them, or embarrassing things said about them. It is easy for the bully to hide their identity so the victim never knows who is behind it. Cyber bullying can cause the same results as traditional forms of bullying, such as low self-esteem, depression, feelings of shame and embarrassment, and even suicide. It can also escalate to levels that are considered criminal by U.S. government legislation on computer crimes and online harassment

Bullying is extremely hard on children. Their grades can suffer, as can their physical and mental health. Many children, who are bullied on a regular basis, become afraid to go to school, and find any excuse to stay home. Some children have committed or attempted to commit suicide when bullying became too overwhelming. Bullies generally do not get to see the consequences or comprehend the effects of their actions.

Whether teachers are dealing with traditional forms of bullying, cyber bullying, or a combination of the two, it is crucial that they understand the issues involved. When it comes to cyber bullying, teachers need to understand the technology used for cyber bullying and how it works. It is essential to bring the problem of bullying into the open where it cannot be ignored.

Another method used to decrease bullying is civility training, which instructs students with compassion, kindness, empathy, and community building. This is often done through historical examples of positive behaviors, and teaching how it feels to try to walk in “another’s shoes,” by spending a day in a wheelchair, for example. Sadly, in some schools, bullying goes unreported by victims and witnesses. Students are more likely to come forward in schools where there is a strong sense of community. Teachers can play an instrumental role in the progression toward safer schools for all children by teaching children behaviors that facilitate a strong sense of community.

Dr. Matthew Lynch is an Assistant Professor of Education at Widener University. Dr. Lynch is the author of three books; It’s Time for Change: School Reform for the Next Decade (Rowman & Littlefield December, 2012), A Guide to Effective School Leadership Theories (Routledge February 26, 2012), and The Call to Teach: An Introduction to Teaching (Pearson 2013). Please visit his website at www.drmattlynch.com for more information.

Comments

wintertime

June 20, 2012 at 4:55 am

If the government treats children like prisoners in its prison-like schools, why are we surprised to see prison social pathology?

American schools look like minimum security PRISONS! In many ways, the children are treated like prisoners. Just as in prison there are few First Amendment Rights. They are marched around in packs to the sounds of bells. Like prisoners the government workers dictate when they can speak and publish. It is the government worker who dictates with whom they will assemble throughout their most energetic and awake hours. The government functionaries strictly suppress the child’s expression of religion. They are told when and what they can eat, when they can rest, use the restroom, and when they**must** exercise . Their buses look like prison transport. Their play grounds look like prison exercise yards.

In one way, though, prisoners have it better. Real prisoners are not age segregated. Real prisoners associate in a more racially and economically diverse community, and real prisoners are not subjected to a non-stop, government established, godless-worldview and indoctrination.

As for community:
The children in our small rural town attend a government owned and run school that has **four** first grades! How is it possible to form a community when it is impossible for the teachers to know the names of the students in the school, or for the parents to know other parents who live in distant parts of the county even if their children are in the same cell ( oops! “classroom”)? The children in this school are **processed** like a can of Campbell soup!

Finally:
Government schools are not and never have been religiously neutral because a religiously neutral education is impossible! Today **all** government owned and run schools are utterly godless in their worldview. The children are subjected to the continuous establishment of the government religion of godless secular humanism. It takes a **very** determined family deprogram a child from that indoctrination. So?… If we sanitize the curriculum of all the religious beliefs, teachings, and scriptures held dear by the child’s family, why are we surprised to see that bullying is common?

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