If your child is being bullied,
she’s not alone. About 160,000 children in the United States miss school every
day due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students, according to the
National Education Association.
Bullying is a serious problem that
is growing worse, and is taking on new forms through the use of the Internet
and mobile phones, say educators. Some estimates say that 25 per cent of
American children experience direct or indirect bullying daily.
Broadly speaking, bullying can
involve any number of behaviours, according to Findlaw.com, a leading online
source of legal information, including sexual harassment of another student,
teasing, excluding a student, calling a student names, physically pushing or attacking,
threatening or hazing, spreading rumours, damaging or stealing belongings, or
demanding money.
Bullying can have far-reaching
consequences for the victim, the perpetrators and other students, who
indirectly become distracted from their studies out of fear of becoming a
bully’s next victim. Bullying has been cited as a factor in teen suicides as
well as in a number of on-campus shooting massacres, including the infamous and
tragic Columbine High School incident in Colorado, US. In that case, media
reports suggested that both of the shooters were victims of bullying.
Historically, bullying among school
children has not been a topic of broad public concern. In fact, some adults may
view bullying as a rite of passage for children and youth, as popularised on
the big screen and on TV programmes. Because of events like Columbine,
attention to bullying among children has increased dramatically among school
personnel, members of the general public and policy makers. Today, according to
Findlaw.com, 43 states have some form of anti-bullying laws in place, complementing
anti-bullying policies established at the local level by private and public
school boards.
Talk to your child. A lot of times
your child will not want to talk about being bullied because they perceive it
as embarrassing and humiliating. If you notice a change in your child’s
behaviour and attitudes, approach them first. Offer your support and let them
know that action will be taken to improve the situation. Your child will most
likely be feeling isolated at school and it’s important for them to know that
they can confide in you.
Document facts. Take pictures of
any injuries and have your child give a detailed description of what happened.
Write down the dates and times that these situations occurred and get
statements from any other students, teachers or parents who may have observed
the bullying. This information may be useful if police and school officials
need to get involved to prove how long this has been going on and what the
damage has been.
Talk to teachers and the principal.
Don’t wait. Immediately contact the school and alert school officials to the
problems that your child is facing. Many schools are adopting a zero-tolerance
policy toward bullying. Alert other adults about this situation as well,
including parents of other children and the bus driver. The more people who are
aware of bullying, the more chances the act has of being stopped.
Put it in writing. In addition to
talking directly to teachers and the school principal, put your concerns into
writing to the principal, the superintendent and school board members. While
many schools have adopted zero-tolerance policies, some school officials and
teachers may not take seriously their own school’s bullying policies, or for
that matter, state laws regarding bullying. Putting your concerns in writing
sends a strong signal that you mean business.
Encourage others to speak up. If
the same child is bullying other students, persuade parents to report it too.
School officials are more likely to respond immediately if they see the problem
is affecting several students.
Call the police. Many states
require schools to report bullying incidents to the police, according to
Findlaw.com. If your child has been the victim of a physical assault or repeated
incidents of bullying, call the local authorities – especially if your school
has not contacted local authorities.
Talk with a lawyer. If your child
has been physically or sexually harassed contact an attorney. Attorneys who
specialize in personal injury litigation are probably best suited to represent
you and your child.
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