School Issues

Bullying in Ireland is a behavioural problem which affects the lives of thousands of school children and their families. The humiliation, fear, frustration, social isolation and loss of self esteem which children experience when bullied results in absenteeism from school, poor or deteriorating schoolwork, personality changes, illness, depression and unfortunately sometimes suicide.

Most people are aware that bullying exists, yet this behaviour often remains largely unchallenged until it manifests itself as either directly impacting on someone we know and care about or as a problem that has become too serious to ignore.

Bullying in Ireland is a behavioural problem which affects the lives of thousands of school children and their families. The humiliation, fear, frustration, social isolation and loss of self esteem which children experience when bullied results in absenteeism from school, poor or deteriorating schoolwork, personality changes, illness, depression and unfortunately sometimes suicide. 

Most people are aware that bullying exists, yet this behaviour often remains largely unchallenged until it manifests itself as either directly impacting on someone we know and care about or as a problem that has become too serious to ignore.

National and International research has shown that bullying knows no boundaries of age, sex or socio-economic background. It can take many forms, it can be short term, or continue over long periods, even years.  Bullying behaviour quickly causes pain and distress to its victims. 

TYPES OF BULLYING

Verbal Bullying

...can leave children feeling angry, frightened and powerless, if children are unable to share their feelings with someone else it can leave them emotionally bruised and exhausted.

Their powers of concentration can suffer, adversely affecting their capacity for learning. Verbal attacks can be of a highly personal and sexual nature. They can be directed at the child's family, culture, race or religion. Malicious rumours are particularly insidious forms of verbal bullying.

Physical Bullying

...is often written off as "horseplay", "pretend" or "just a game" when challenged. While children can and do play roughly, in the case of bullying be aware that these 'games' can be a precursor to vicious physical assaults. Both boys and girls indulge in physical bullying, boys perhaps more so as they have a greater tendency towards physical aggression.

Gesture Bullying

...there are many different forms of non-verbal threatening gestures which can convey intimidatory and frightening messages, i.e. The state or look which accompanies bullying behaviour. 

Exclusion Bullying

...is particularly hurtful because it isolates the child from his/her peer group and is very hard for the child to combat as it directly attacks their self confidence/self image.

Extortion Bullying

...young children are particularly vulnerable to extortion bullying. Demands for money, possessions or equipment, lunch vouchers or food may be made, often accompanied by threats. Children may also be dared or forced to steal from the school leaving them (at the mercy of the bully) open to further intimidation.

E-bullying

...in an ever more technologically advanced world, a new strain of bullying has emerged amongst children, which utilises web pages, emails and text messaging to abuse, intimidate and attack others, either directly or indirectly i.e. rumour mongering.

WHY DO PEOPLE BULLY?

While constitutional factors play a part in aggressive behaviour, it is recognised that factors within the home, school and wider society influence the development of aggressive behaviour. 

If aggressive behaviour is not challenged in childhood, there is a danger that it may become habitual.  Indeed, there is research evidence, to indicate that bullying during childhood puts children at risk of criminal behaviour and domestic violence in adulthood.

Factors which contribute to aggressive behaviour in the home are:

• Lack of love and care
• Too much freedom
• Inconsistent discipline
• Permissive management of aggressive behaviour
• Violent emotional outbursts on part of adults
• Excessive physical punishment
• Cruelty

Factors which contribute to aggression in school are:

• Inconsistent and inflexible rules
• Poor staff morale
• Inadequate supervision
• Punishment that is too harsh, abusive or humiliating
• Few incentives and rewards for non-aggressive behaviour
• Curriculum that affords few feelings of success and achievement

Other factors in wider society include violence portrayed on cinema screens and on television. Research suggests that children who constantly view violence on TV and video develop more aggressive tendencies and less empathy with victims of aggression. This is especially true of children who experience violence in their home and their neighbourhood as part and parcel of their daily lives.

WHO GETS BULLIED?

For most people when you talk about a child who gets bullied there is a clear mental image in their head of the "classic" school victim. The small, perhaps chubby, bespectacled individual straight out Tom Brown's School Days or Billy Bunter. 

The truth of who gets victimised is, however, far less clear cut. Any pupil, through no fault of their own may be bullied. Anything, no matter how small, that sets the victim apart from the bully or bullies may be sufficient "justification" in their eyes. Sometimes all it takes is for the child to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Therefore it is not unusual to find that there are many children victimised through bullying who are popular and socially well adjusted.

It has been recognised that many of the negative and unsympathetic characteristics that are often ascribed to victims may be the result of long-term bullying rather than a cause of bullying. 

There are, though, some children who unwittingly invite attacks by behaving in ways that cause tension and irritation in their immediate vicinity. Such children, often referred to as 'provocative' victims may have inadequate social skills or learning difficulties. 

Sadly however, research shows that no matter what the true origin of the bullying is, children who are bullied tend to see the cause of bullying in themselves and feel or imagine that there is something "wrong" with them.

BULLYING AT SCHOOL IN IRELAND : HOW WIDESPREAD IS IT?

The Nationwide Study of Bullying in Irish first and second level schools conducted by Dr Mona O'Moore in Trinity College Dublin indicates that some 31% of Primary Students and 16% of Secondary Students have been bullied at some time.

From our circa 870,000 school going population, approximately 23% or 200,000 children are at risk of suffering the ill effects of bullying. (For more information contact The A.B.C, Trinity College)

WHERE DOES BULLYING TAKE PLACE?

Bullying can occur almost anywhere, but particularly where there is either inadequate or no adult supervision. 

Results from the Nationwide Study on Bullying Behaviour in Irish Schools (O'Moore, 1997) show that in Primary schools in Ireland 74% of children who said they were bullied, reported that they were bullied in the playground. While 31% claimed that the bullying occurred in the classroom.

At Secondary level the most common place to be bullied was in the classrooms, with 47% of victimised children placing the incidents there. The next most likely place, at 37%, was in the corridors, with the playground at 27%. 

Other areas, within the school, where children reported bullying to go on, at both levels, included the toilets, changing rooms, locker areas and dormitories in boarding schools.

19% of primary school children who said they were bullied said that the incidents occurred going to or from school, while 8.8% of post-primary students said the same.

THE EFFECTS OF BULLYING

Some of the effects of bullying include:

• Stress
• Reduced Ability to Concentrate
• Lack of Motivation Or Energy
• Poor Or Deteriorating School Work
• Anxiety About Going To School
• Loss of Confidence & Self Esteem
• Lack Of Appetite / Comfort Eating
• Alcohol, Drug Or Substance Abuse
• Aggressive Behaviour
• Depression
• Problems with Sleeping: Nightmares, Bedwetting, Sweats
• Stomach & Bowel Disorders
• Panic Attacks
• Nervous Breakdown
• Attempted Suicide

                   

THE TELL TALE SIGNS

Watch out for:

• Unexplained bruising, cuts or damaged clothes
• Visible signs of anxiety or distress - refusal to say what is wrong
• Unexplained mood swings or behaviour
  - becoming withdrawn
  - becoming clinging
  - attention seeking
  - aggressive behaviour
• Out of character behaviour in class
• Deterioration in educational attainments
• Loss of concentration
• Loss of interest in school
• Erratic attendance
• Mitching
• Lingering behind in school after classes are over
• Increased requests for pocket money or stealing money
• Loss of or damage to personal possessions or equipment
• Artwork expressing inner turmoil         

 

THE KEY TO CHANGE

To prevent the cycle of violence from one generation to the next, adults, in all possible situations must intervene.

Failure to act gives a silent but powerful message that aggressive behaviour is appropriate and acceptable. Moreover, valuable opportunities are lost for shaping society's general attitude to violence and oppression.

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO?

Prevention is better than cure.

Empower schools to act

...remember, your child can be either the victim or the bully, we all have the ability to bully others within us. Make sure that your child's school has the policy and the programme in place that ensures that, ineither eventuality, your child's problems will be identified and acted upon.

Empower pupils to report incidents

...statements to children like 'you shouldn't tell tales' and discouraging "whistleblowing" at a young age, can have detrimental repercussions when it comes to incidents of bullying. Always make it clear to your children that it is always right to tell when they see something wrong.

Discuss Bullying Behaviour with your children

...make them aware that bullying is not simply "physical" and discuss what kind of effects it can have. 

Challenge every incident of Bullying Behaviour that is witnessed

...lead by example. Where you see negative behaviour highlight it.

Be aware of your own behaviour. 

...don't confuse your children by talking one way and acting another, avoid inconsistent discipline and power-assertive methods of discipline. Exercise democracy in your home, give the children responsibility. Promote confidence and enhance their self esteem.

WHAT TO TELL CHILDREN IF THEY ARE BEING BULLIED

What to Do

Act as confident as you can. Face them and tell them clearly to stop. Try and be calm and move away from them.

Don't Hit Out

If someone is bullying you don't try to hit/kick them. You may get badly hurt in a fight and even if you don't, the bully can sometimes use how you hit them against you, and make it seem like you are the bully.

If They Call You Names

If they tease you or slag you off, try and laugh it off. Don't let them see that they have hurt you. Bullies like to get a reaction, if they don't get one there is no point in them bullying you.

Remember, It's Not About You

Often people who bully other people do it to make themselves feel better, because they are unhappy, at school or at home. Remember that they have the problem not you. Don't believe what they say to you, and don't blame yourself. 

Tell Your Friends//People You Can Trust In Class

Tell them what is going on and how you feel. Ask them to come with you to tell a teacher if you are afraid. Ask them to stand up with you against the bully.

Tell Someone

If you're being bullied, try and tell someone about it.

Talk to :

- Your parents
- Someone in your family
- Your teachers
- A Helpline

If your school has a peer mediation or mentoring program try to use it. No one can help you if you don't tell them.

Don't hit back with violence. Getting into a physical fight with someone can be dangerous.

If you are afraid to tell because it might make things worse, tell the person you talk to that you are afraid if they do anything it might make it worse, ask them to find a way to help you deal with it that won't.

What To Say When You Tell

- Tell them what has happened;
- Who is doing it;
- How often it has happened;
- Did anyone see or hear what went on
- What have you tried to do about it.

WHAT SCHOOLS SHOULD DO

There is no such thing as a bully-free school. Just because there are no reports of incidences or because they are not witnessed by school staff it does not mean it is not happening. The National Study on Bullying in Irish Schools reported that children often don't tell.

All schools should implement the recommendations put in place by the Department of Education's Guidelines on Countering Bullying Behaviour in Primary and Post Primary Schools (Sept.1993). 

Raise Awareness of Bullying in the School

...run an annual awareness week where various classes and events are run to increase knowledge of what bullying is and what impact it can have. Run competitions on the theme, in art, poetry, and prose. Combine with the children to write a play and perform it for the school. 

...run a staff day for the teachers to deepen their understanding of the matter and solicit suggestions on how to proceed. Set up a working party.

...invite the parents, school management and wider community to an evening in the school to enlighten and inform on the subject and involve them in the drafting of the school policy.

Draft a School Policy on Bullying

...develop a whole school, pro-active and constantly evolving policy on bullying within the framework of an overall school code of behaviour and discipline. Involve and inform the parents and wider community.

This policy should include:

• a clear definition of bullying and the forms it takes
• a statement that bullying is unacceptable behaviour and that it will not be tolerated.
• that pupils should support each other by reporting all instances of bullying.
• that all reports of bullying will be investigated and be dealt with sympathetically.
• A clear statement on how the school will handle an alleged case of bullying.

Implement Preventative Measures

...apart from raising awareness, put in place programmes designed to help children view and deal with conflict in a positive manner. 

...Give them the skills and the mandate to deal with some forms of conflict themselves. Put in place peer mediation or mentoring programmes.

(Many bullying incidents escalate out of small scale arguments/misunderstandings, if the children have the skills and the confidence to deal with them themselves, many bullying incidents could be prevented.

Classes could be a safer more co-operative place of learning and in addition, teachers would have to spend less time on small disputes and disciplinary measures, freeing up their time for teaching, benefiting all. )

An information pack including a comprehensive reading list and the above information in a booklet entitled School Bullying: Key Facts can be ordered free of charge from the A.B.C.

Tel: (01) 896 2573 / 896 3488
E-mail: lmcguire@tcd.ie