Bullying is an issue that schools still struggle with, even though ongoing efforts have helped the problem. To continue the progress made, school staff, administrators, and teachers should prioritize bully awareness at the beginning of the school year and continuously deal with it as a top objective all year. In this article, Paulette Chaffee, children’s advocate and teacher, discusses the six essential steps an anti-bullying program should have which can begin the day school starts:
Step 1. Establish the rules
Schools should have anti-bullying policies ready to be implemented on the first day of school. Anti-bullying procedures must incorporate the culture and unique characteristics of the school to be successful. A program that does not fit with the school’s culture will most likely not have as big of an impact on students due to a lack of connection. Anti-bullying programs should focus on how to set policies that students can understand and follow. Bully policies should be discussed within the classroom and with the entire school. Reminders can be placed in the hallways highlighting these rules, and creativity is encouraged!
Step 2. Teach what bullying looks like
If students are unaware of what bullying looks like, then the problem is fueled by a lack of awareness. Teaching students how to identify bullying indicators can help build a safer school environment with more eyes watching for bully behavior. Bullying is not always physical. Relational bullying is also widespread on school grounds. Teaching the signs and patterns of these types of bullies brings self and social awareness to students about which actions are wrong and right.
Step 3. Teach how to respond to bullying
Once a student can identify bullying, it is essential to teach the most appropriate responses to it. Social-emotional learning is influential in teaching students how to respond to bullying. Understanding how to practice kindness, empathy, self-assurance, discipline, self-control, and resilience can aid in overcoming a bully.
Step 4. Create a bully watch-and-report process
Not every student will rush to a teacher and want to save the day when they see bullying in action. Many students prefer to turn their heads the other way and pretend not to see it to avoid conflict entirely, especially as bystanders. Teaching bystanders how essential their duty is to report bullying empowers students not to be afraid to speak up when they see bullying. Schools should create a bully reporting process that is easy to engage with and allows students to feel safe and not like a snitch when reporting a bully.
Step 5. Address victimization
What do you do when a bully picks on you? Teachers should always address this question, as students need many tools in their toolbox to break bully behavior cycles while not letting the bully rattle their self-worth and confidence. First, teaching students to embrace their authentic selves regardless of others’ opinions helps boost students’ confidence levels to aid in avoiding victimization. Other strategies like “Peer Buddies” instills teamwork and a safe network against bullying.
Step 6. Unlearn to relearn
According to stopbullying.gov, bullying is more than bad behavior – bullying is defined as aggressive behavior that is unwanted and repeatedly occurs. Bullying is categorized as a form of abuse due to the involvement of a power imbalance. When looking at its roots, bullying is a learned behavior often inflicted as a response to stress. Teaching what causes bullying and how one becomes a bully can lead to discussing how to unlearn abusive behavior patterns and relearn emotional intelligence and social-emotional learning.
About Paulette Chaffee
Paulette Chaffee is an educator, children’s advocate, grants facilitator, lawyer, and member of various non-profit boards. She obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Redlands in Communicative Disorders and a California Lifetime Teaching Credential. She is currently the Ambassador for Orange County 4th District and a board member of All the Arts for All the Kids.
