New Report: Bullying and Violence in Schools

Posted by on April 27, 2009

Evolving an understanding of bullying

A new report from the Association of Childhood Education International has practical steps that teachers can follow to implement anti-bullying programs and stem “the tide of the international plague known as bullying.” Bullying should not be considered a normal stage of child development, but a precursor for more serious violent behaviors that need immediate and appropriate intervention by a caring adult. Children who bully are four times more likely than non-bullies to be convicted of a serious crime by age 24. The first step is to recognize characteristics of bullies, who may be physically, emotionally, or verbally abusive. Once teachers and other administrators understand some of the complex causes of bullying and learn to identify bullying characteristics, they can move forward. The next step is training, after which point teachers can establish anti-bullying methods in the classroom. Teachers must establish clear rules on behaviors and consequences, and work with bullying victims to prevent the cycle from repeating.

Read more: http://www.acei.org/bullying.pdf