BULLYING IN

SCHOOLS
By: Haley Stiebing & Lauren Seaner

Topic of Inquiry

Bullying unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged

children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance.
The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated,
over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others
may have serious, lasting problems.

Bullying Include Actions Such As:

Making Threats
Spreading Rumors
Teasing
Name Calling
Attacking someone physically or verbally
Excluding someone from a group on purpose

http://www.thebullyproject.co

Methodology

In order to find out more of other

teachers thoughts and experiences with
bullying we interviewed 3 different
teachers asking them questions
pertaining to bullying.

Question 1:
In your own words, what would you
describe as bullying?

Tammy Stiebing (9th Grade)

Purposely hurting (physically or

emotionally) of someone weaker.

Betsy Garrety (10th Grade)

Bullying is physical, emotional, tactics

that are continual form of harrassment.

Pam Sigler (4th Grade)

I feel that bullying is when a child feels

threatened or picked on causing him/her
to dislike school and to feel unsafe.
Bullying can be one child against
another or a group against another
student. The bully typically preys on a
student that wont speak up for himself.
Bullying can be physical or verbal.

Question 2:
Where does bullying typically happen?
Have you witnessed it?

Tammy Stiebing (9th Grade)

Typically happens in the hallway

between classes or during lunch. If it
happens during class, the bully is much
more subtle about it, making it difficult
for the teacher to witness.
(He may just stare to intimidate or
something small during class)

Betsy Garrety (10th Grade)

I have witnessed bullying. Bullying can

happen anywhere such as the internet,
text message or even face to face.

Pam Sigler (4th Grade)

At school bullying typically occurs during

unstructured times such as recess,
changing classes, restroom break, etc.
I have not witnessed bullying but when a
student reports a bullying incident, they
usually tell of the unstructured times
mentioned above.

Question 3:
Whats the proper protocol for
bullying? What would you do if
someone was being bullied?

Tammy Stiebing (9th Grade)

Proper protocol is to tell someone of

authority so they proper channels can be
implemented. Teachers should not try to
handle it themselves. Instead, they
should reassure the student that they
will tell proper people (administration or
counselor) to get them help.

Betsy Garrety (10th Grade)

Proper protocol is to report it

immediately to administration or
counselor. I would report it vocally and
via email. I would cc every
administrator and counselor to make
sure I am covered. Its the teachers
responsibility to report it.

Pam Sigler (4th Grade)

When a student reports a bullying incident, the first step would be to assure
the safety of the person(s) being bullied.
Investigate the bullying incident. (Always document conversations. Keeping
a record will help you to see if there is a pattern in the bullys behavior.)
Talk to the bullying student about why their actions/words are inappropriate.
Come up with a plan on how they could have handled the situation in a
better way. Sometimes making a contract with the bully helps to make him
accountable for his actions.
Speak to the school counselor about suggestions on how to handle the
situation at hand.
Call parents of the incident and what actions you have taken.
I would follow the steps I listed above. Of course every incident is different
and may call for some adjustments. Some victims of bullying would rather
you not tell the bully that they reported it. If possible, it is important to keep
the trust of the reporter, otherwise the student being bullied may not make
a report again.

Data Analysis & Findings

We found that most teachers had witnessed bullying and are

against it.
Most bullying typically happens outside the classroom.
Theres not just one way people get bullied. Bullying can
happen in a variety of different ways.

Statistics of 2014
Where Bullying Occurs

12.2
29.3
19.5

23.4

Teasing, Playing Jokes, Name Calling

Children having rumors or lies
spread about them verbally or online
Pushing and Shoving in Class or in
Lines
Report hitting, Shoving, or Kicking
by someone else
Have been left out or ignored by
Classmates

29

Classroom
s
Hallways/L
ockers
Cafeteria
Gym/PE
Class
Bathroom
Playground
/Recess

Implications for Teaching

Assess the Bullying in Your School

Conduct assessments in your school to

determine how often bullying occurs, where
it happens, how students and adults
intervene, and whether your prevention
efforts are working.

Engage Parents and Youth

Establish a school safety committee or task

force to plan, implement, and evaluate your
schools bullying prevention program.

Implications for Teaching

Create Policies and Rules

Create a mission statement, code of

conduct, school-wide rules, and a bullying
reporting system.

Build a Safe Environment

Use staff meeting, assemblies, class and

parent meetings, newsletters to families,
the school website, and the student
handbook to establish a positive climate at
school.

References

An Indians Fathers Plea by R. Lake

Learning Privilege by A. Howard

Resources

http://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-bully
ing/definition/index.html
http://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/a
t-school
/
http://nobullying.com/cyberbullying-bullyi
ng-statistics-2014-finally
/
Textbook