Bullying is not harmless teasing. This article examines why children bully, how victims are affected and how teachers, parents and counsellors can work together to create safer schools.
By Teacher Krupa Sinari
Understand the causes of bullying in schools and how teachers, parents and counsellors can support both the bully and the child being targeted.
What exactly is bullying? There lies a thin line between teasing and bullying. Bullying is always on purpose, especially meant to hurt the feelings of other people, whether they like it or not. That is the other concern. Teasing at times may stop if the other person does not like it. Bullying has become a daily routine for almost everyone in schools, marketplaces, tuition and everywhere. More than this, we all are told to live with it because it is a part. The bully is often seen as dominant and powerful in terms of physical health or intellectual knowledge or socioeconomic background. The target, on the other hand, is always submissive and lags behind in something or the other. The main question comes now ‘HOW DO WE SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF BULLYING IN SCHOOLS’? I believe before taking serious action against the bully, judging only the incidents, we should always consider both sides of the coin. We always blame the bully in every case. Is it really the bully to be blamed or the surroundings, or the peer group or the parents? The society as a whole becomes a part of the incident indirectly. We as teachers or the school have to compulsorily understand the psychology of both the bully and the target before taking the issue to their parents. There are counsellors appointed in every school; the school may take help from her. Teachers may also talk to the students like a peer by organising small games, drawing, etc. “Bullying may stop when everyone chooses kindness, respect, and courage. Together, we can make our school a safe and happy place for all.”
Teacher Krupa is from Ravindra Kelekar Dnyanmandir
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