A Bully in Your Midst – Advice For Preventing Bullying in Elementary Schools

Bullying is a common problem among elementary students, and many students have had experiences with being bullied at school. Studies have shown that 15% of school students have been involved in bullying, either as the bully or as the victim. Learning about what a bully is and what to do to stop him is a powerful tool for any elementary school student. By educating students about bullying at a young age, schools can lessen bullying problems and students can gain the knowledge and confidence to identify and address bullying in effective ways.

The definition of a bully is simple and broad. A bully is someone who teases or torments another person. This bullying can come in the form of name-calling or starting rumors about someone. It could be the act of excluding someone from a group of children. It may involve punching, hitting, kicking or other physical aspect. Picking on someone, making fun of them or threatening them could also be the foundation of the bullying.

Bullying is hurtful to the victim in many ways. Their self-confidence and self-esteem is lowered. Sometimes, they are ashamed and feel as if they deserve the negative treatment. They may think they did something to cause the situation. Often a victim of bullying becomes depressed and withdraws from usual activity. The negative effects of bullying can often be seen in lower school grades, irritability / anxiousness with family members and friends, and changes in normal behavior / personality.

What does a bully look like? Students often think a bully is someone who has larger stature than them, but a bully can be anyone. Students need to understand a bully can be a boy or a girl, younger or older, bigger or smaller, any race or sex…a bully can even be an adult. It is important for students (especially lower elementary students) to understand that it is the actions a person does that makes them a bully and not what a person looks like.

Once a child begins to understand what is bully is, focus can then be put on preventing bullying and ways to deal with a bully.

Advice for elementary students on dealing with a bully / preventing bullying:

* Simply walk away if someone tries to bully them.
* Speak in a firm tone and let the bully know that you do not like what they are doing.
* Inform a teacher of the incident as soon as possible. Students must understand that it is okay to tell a teacher or parent that they are being bullied. Many students think that they are being “tattle tales” if they report an incident and often think that they might get in trouble for “telling on someone”.
* Remain calm with a bully. Getting angry or physical with a bully will only escalate a situation.
* Buddy up with a friend on the playground, or while walking to and from school.
* Do not bring money or expensive items to school.

Bullying happens frequently at schools, but it can happen just about anywhere. In the school setting, it often takes place in the hallway, bathroom, on the school bus, at the playground, during recess, before and after school. One strategy to avoid this from happening is to have adequate adult supervision on the playground and in the lunch room.

The teacher can have a big impact on the amount of bullying that occurs. It is recommended that she teach social skills and model positive behaviors. She can also applaud students that exhibit good manners and behaviors. The school administration could establish a policy as to what consequences will be given to the bully. This should be consistent throughout the school so everyone is “on the same page”.

Some suggestions for elementary teachers who want to address bullying in their classrooms:

* Have the children role play. Pair them up and have them develop a short script, with one of them being the bully and the other being the victim. Share the plays with all of the students. Switch the positions, so the one portraying the victim becomes the bully. Encourage interaction from their classmates. Ask for ideas as to how things could have been handled differently.
* Post class rules where all students will see them, with one of the rules being that no bullying will be tolerated.
* Reward and praise positive behaviors.
* Teach problem solving skills. Discuss intervention skills with the students. For example, if someone is being bullied the other children should not join in, laugh or encourage the behavior in any way. Tell them that they can report the incident without getting in trouble themselves.

Bullying prevention cannot be solved in the classroom alone. No bullying / bully-free school zone programs need to be implemented and enforced school wide. A great way for schools to prevent bullying is to start of student supervision program. Students in higher grades take turns helping to supervise the playground at recess. They are sometimes given a sash to identify them as student helpers. Incidents of bullying are lessened when these programs are in place, and it helps to instill a since of responsibility in the older students and create a more supportive school community among students.

Schools have also seen success with programs such as “Safe and Caring Schools”. When a student is seen doing a kind or friendly act they receive a certificate. At times, a reward replaces the certificate, such as a pencil or small prize. Another method to encourage friendliness is to give the student a ticket that can be put in a jar, with the winner being announced at a weekly or monthly assembly program. A small gift can be awarded to the recipient. Forming peer groups is another suggestion schools can employ. The school counselor may be placed in charge of such a program. Kids that are “at risk” for being bullies or victims, could be paired up to do a short activity together, under counselor supervision.

Bringing in outside speakers and school assemblies to talk to students about bullying can also be an effective way to reinforce a no bullying messages throughout a school year. The state of Michigan has recognized the No bullying assembly programs from Michigan & Midwest School Assemblies to be an important and effective tool in bully prevention for elementary students.

Midwest School Assembly shows offers elementary school assembly programs for Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois schools that reinforce messages about bullying and character building. In many cases, costs for these programs can be paid by grants or state funding for bully programs.

Stacy Connor