A recent survey by the RAND Corporation found that educators feel bullying is the biggest safety concern facing their school, according to the Crisis Prevention Institute. To recognize bullying and respond appropriately, you need a clear definition of what bullying is and how to recognize the signs of bullying.
The three main types of bullying are:
- Verbal Bullying — behaviors such as teasing, name calling, and taunting.
- Social/Relational Bullying — behaviors such as purposefully leaving someone out, embarrassing someone, and spreading rumors.
- Physical Bullying — behaviors such as hitting, breaking someone’s things, and rude hand gestures.
Cyberbullying is also a serious issue for students. Cyberbullying can be experienced anywhere at any time. Being digital in nature means bullying words or images are permanent. And teachers often have a hard time spotting it.
A student’s behavior may suddenly change to communicate they are experiencing bullying. Or if a student is bullying others, they may be communicating that they too are experiencing trauma or distress. In response to bullying, a student’s behavior may change in one of the following ways:
- Skipping class or not coming to school
- Withdrawing from class discussions
- May be frequently ill, sick, or injured
- May no longer have the same group of friends
- May start having failing grades
- Talking back to teachers or classmates
- Physically assaulting others
- Acting restless in class
- May start having heightened emotional responses to situations
If a student is bullying others, you might see these behaviors:
- Consistent, aggressive behavior
- Blaming classmates for actions or behavior
- Becoming friends with others who are known to bully
- Starts or joins physical and/or verbal fights
- Becomes overly competitive/seeking approval from friends
By understanding the potential impact of your own actions, you are better prepared to offer the right kind of support when needed. For example:
- If a student is anxious or withdraws from social interactions, you’ll want to offer them support.
- If a student is defensive or blaming others for their actions, you’ll need to use a directive tone when addressing them.
- If a student is being verbally or physically aggressive, use safe interventions like calling a fellow teacher for support and removing bystanders from the room.
When you view all behavior as communication, you can begin to hear your students’ feelings, validate them, and create a healthier learning environment for everyone.
Crisis Prevention Institute
