Bullying in Schools Essay -- Bullying Essays

Introduction Bullying has been a part of schooling for as long as children have been congregating. To some it seems like a natural, though uncomfortable, part of life and school experience, while to others it can mean terrifying experiences which spoiled and characterized otherwise happy years in school. Dan Olweus, a pioneer in bully behavior research documented that 2.7 million children are affected as victims, and that 2.1 children act as bullies (Fried, 1997, as cited in Aluedse, 2006). With bullying cited as the reason for violent, gun-related crime in the past few years, school districts as well as national governments have put anti-bullying policies in place. Bullying is a complicated phenomenon, involving more than one child demanding lunch money from a smaller child. It is a worldwide epidemic hitting schools everywhere. Virtually everyone has seen or experienced bullying. With technological advances, bullying is even hitting the internet. Parents, teachers, students and governments agen cies alike are attempting to put a stop to bullying practices. I chose to write about bullying because I experienced it first hand while working in Japan. As an English teacher at Tomobe Junior High School in Kasama, Japan, I witnessed how one twelve year old boy routinely abused not only his schoolmates, but physically assaulted teachers as well. At times when all students were seated, he walked around the classroom and picked on the other students; I saw how the classroom teacher glanced at him then turned his head so he would not bear witness and need to act. I saw how this boy verbally bullied his classmates by yelling and making comments in a hostile, insolent tone; I saw how he would often get physical and smack, shove, push an... ..., K., & Coie, J. (1987). Social-information-processing factors in reactive and proactive aggression in children's peer groups. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 1146-1158. Fried, S. (1997). Bullies and victims: Children abusing children. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 19, 127-133. Olweus, D. (1984). Aggressors and their victims: Bullying at school. In N. Fmde & H. Gault (Eds.), Disruptive behavior in schools. New York: Wiley. Smith, P., & Sharp, S. (1994). School bullying: Insights and perspectives. London: Routledge. Roland E., & Munthe E. (1997). The 1996 Norwegian program for preventing and managing bullying in schools. The Irish Journal of Psychology, 18, 233–247. Ross, D. M. (1996). Childhood bullying and teasing: What school personnel, other professionals, and parents can do. Virginia: American Counseling Association.