Learning to Stop Bullying
The classic image of a bully is often portrayed as a larger person overwhelming someone smaller, and it continues to hold true in many cases. Unfortunately, bullies have begun to learn that size is not always necessary. Smaller children and adults have found they are able to use much more subtle methods to bully others, so educating students to recognize them has become an important part of modern education. Even more important, students of all ages need to recognize bullies as well as be taught how to deal with them.
Recognition is the First Step
Bullying has become an important social issue, and education in it has expanded far beyond what was taught just a few years ago. Students might have learned from their parents how to avoid being bullied, but modern school children need more tools. Not all bullies are larger and more fearsome than other children, so recognizing those who take advantage of others is important. Looking for tell-tale signs such as a student who holds power over others with a grimace or making a fist can be the first step in recognizing that someone is bullying.
Stopping a Bully
It is important for children to understand that they are will not always be able to stop a bully on their own, so teaching them to get assistance from a teacher, school official or parent is important. Primary School Powerpoints offers a package on anti-bullying KS2 Powerpoints that can help educators teach children the proper way to handle a difficult situation. Rather than letting an incident occur, a student can be given the tools they need to report the situation. Stopping a bully is not always easy, but giving adults the information about one is a good way to keep them from being successful.
The Emotional Element
Modern bullies often rely on techniques that were once the province of adult bullies, so they have learned to use emotional elements to control others. For many students, the bully has found the key to preying on them with emotion rather than fear of physical harm. They may speak about a child’s family or friends in a threatening manner, so their size matters little if the child feels threatened. Learning to report this type of bully is one of the new keys to keeping them from taking over, but it is important for students to be able to report the details of the encounter accurately. Learning how to recognize as well as report emotional abuse has become important when taking away the power of bullies.
There are no easy answers when it comes to bullies, but there are ways to combat them. Giving students and educators the right tools for the job is important, and reinforcing the lessons with assemblies is a good way to make progress against those who feel they have the right to coerce others. Teaching children to report incidents that happen outside of the classroom can make school a better place for everyone, and it can even help school officials in their task to ensure all students have a safe place to grow and learn.