Breaking the Bully/Victim Cycle

"Sticks and stones can break your bones but names....can never hurt you.

That about names??? Names can hurt a child forever.

Bullying happens when Someone is repeatedly treated unkindly by one or more people. Unkind actions include, name calling, put-downs, picking on, hitting, extorting money, threatening, damaging belongings, and purposely excluding a child from a group.

Bullying is a serious problem causing long term physical and emotional damage. It affects everyone. At any age, teasing and bullying are harmful and can create a classroom climate that negatively affects a child's ability to learn and the teacher's ability to teach.

Bullying starts in pre-school. Anyone can be a bully, a victim or a join-in part of the crowd. It takes place when there is en imbalance of power between the aggressor and the victim Either a group is bullying an individual (Scapegoating) or one person is bullying another. The children who laugh at the mean remark or action of a bully towards a child are encouraging the bully and therefore part of the problem.

Teachers, parents and schools can work together on a consistent comprehensive plan to prohibit bullying. A teacher's attitude plays a major role in determining the extent of teasing and bullying. To enforce the policy of zero tolerance for verbal abuse Academy staff set clear expectations and consequences for put-downs and bullying. Adults who ignore or are not involved in stopping bullying send a clear message to the bully that their actions are condoned.

Just as children can be taught cognitive skills like math facts and phonics, they can be taught pro-social skills. Both the bully and victim can change their self image. The overly aggressive child can learn empathy and friendship skills, The victimized child can learn to be more assertive. Research shows that excessive viewing of violent videos and television increases the incidence of bullying. If the teacher is unable to break the cycle both the bully and victim should be referred to individual counseling. It is important to take positive actions early to halt aggressive behaviors before they take root.

Each child has the right to learn in a physically and emotionally safe environment.

Louise Clark, Director of Training