As teachers, we are part of the community where we have to be alert and concerned of the learning environment of the area and be active in responding to bullying acts. Responding can make a significant impact on bullying. So, we have to be aware on how to respond just in case we stumble upon these situations. We have to stop the bullying act on the spot. Research shows that this can stop the behaviour over time. We then have to find out what happened and what cause the conflict in the first place. We shall not pick sides but hear from both parties. We have to support both parties and make sure that the act of bullying does not continue and the effects will be minimized by settling the conflict between them in an acceptable pace. We, teachers, should be more than bystanders, our pupils see bullying in prompt every day. They may want to help but have no knowledge on how to. Let us implement respect and love for one another despite of cultural, racial, social, socio-economical, religious, gender and sex differences.
Bullying can threaten your pupils’ physical and emotional safety in school and may impact their learning ability negatively. The best way to address the act is to stop it before it starts. Let us be one in assessing school prevention and intervention efforts around the behaviour of the students including violence and substance use. First, conduct assessments in the class to determine how often it occurs, where and how it happens. Next, unite all staff, parents, and other members of the school to work against bullying. Start an awareness campaign against it and make the objectives known to the school and community members. Establish a school safety committee or strengthen the existing to plan, implement, and evaluate the anti-bullying program. Educate the students and staff. Insert bullying prevention materials into the curriculum and school activities. Next is to build a safe learning environment by implementing the culture of acceptance, tolerance, and respect. Last is to create policies and rules, have a mission statement, code of conduct, school-wide rules, and a bullying reporting system with acceptable, just and humane consequences.
By: PATRICIA D. HERNANDEZ | Teacher III | Bantan Elementary School | Bantan , Orion , Bataan
