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Bullying at school
13:30 (GMT+2), Thu, 12 July 2012

WESTERN CAPE NEWS - The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has provided guidelines to schools on how to deal with bullying.

Schools need to deal with bullying in terms of codes of conduct and intervene appropriately to support the victim and to change the behaviour of the perpetrator. Districts provide training and support on this issue as part of broader support on disciplinary issues.

What is Bullying?
Bullying is when a child or a group of children misuse their power to hurt other children or exclude them. Bullying can be identified by the following types of behaviour: Deliberate use of aggression, unbalanced power relationship between bully and victim and/or the causing of physical pain and/or emotional anxiety.

What are the Different Types of Bullying?
There are three main types of bullying:
* Verbal and written; for example, name calling, negative/ugly comments, intimidation, threatening or humiliating sms-messages.
* Physical; for example, bumping, scratching, shouldering,hitting, tripping, biting, rolling eyes or showing suggestive signs.
* Social/Relationships; for example, gossiping (verbal or written), revealing personal information, manipulation of the child with a view to humiliation or exclusion from a group.

What are the Consequences of Bullying for the Victim?
The effects of bullying varies, but are ge-nerally accepted as: A development of fear of attending school and absenteeism. Victim's development is affected, feelings of inferiority, self-esteem problems, feelings of loneliness, social isolation, emotional problems, psychosomatic symptoms, communication problems, depression, struggle to achieve academically, some victims commit suicide, rule breaking, anti-social behaviour patterns and risk of criminal behaviour later.

Prevention of Bullying:
Class rules should give, in short and concrete terms, a clear guideline for acceptable behaviour. The class rules should include that bullying is unacceptable, that learners will support the victims of bullying and that the class will work together as a unit. Continuous focus on the development of social skills amongst learners.

In the prevention of bullying, a balance must be managed between consequences and prescriptions. All learners who are guilty of bullying should be called to account. It will send out a clear message that bullying willnot be tolerated.

It is however important that the focus should not be on punishment so much as on the changing of behaviour. Suspending the bully for two days only offers the opportunity to watch TV, but does nothing to change the behaviour. Intervention

Strategies:
Once bullying has been identified, it is important to address the situation as soon as possible with the school concerned, where appropriate measures and actions can be discussed and implemented.

Support to the Victim:
Support to the victims of bullying is provided through: Protecting them from further bullying. Helping them to understand the bully's actions. This will enable them not to look for the cause of the bully's beha-viour in themselves. Involving them in educational games of therapy through which they can give expression to their feelings through drawing, writing, drama and verbalisation. Involving them in a support group consisting of other victims. Linking them with a different group of friends who will act supportively.

Help for Bullies:
It is important to remember that the bully often comes from a background where there is insecurity, little parent involvement and inconsistency in actions of parents. These learners are often subjected to physical punishment and emotional outbursts. Before formal counselling is necessary, the bully must come to the realisation that his/her behaviour is always going to have negative consequences until the behaviour is changed. Insistence on an apology, development of self-esteem, why-questions and asking nicely to stop have little succession effecting a change and can aggravate things.