Teachers, have you ever witnessed bullying? ?

Question

This question is for teachers, have you ever witnessed bullying and/or harassment? Or even a fistfight? If so, did you do anything about it? How do you feel about teachers who don't take action when they see bullying, violence, and general harassment in schools?

Answer 1

while most teaching contracts stipulate that teachers are not to involve themselves physically in fights, i feel we have a moral imperative to prevent violence on campus. last week 2 of my students were suspended for bullying (i was not a witness to the events) then friday i overheard a ruckus in the hall & a substitute yelling at 2 boys to knock it off. by the time i got out of my room i couldn't find a single clue as to what had happened. but minutes later as i was walking to the office, 3 boys were walking to the office (one limping & crying) and i asked what had happened. they offered that another boy had given a charlie horse by using his knee on the injured boy. i escorted them al to the office, found out the name of the boy who perpetrated the assault, went to the assembly that all students were at & found the vice principal, gave him the name and details, was asked to escort the student to the office & then left the issue of discipline to the office.

our campus has zero tolerance toward violence-we even discourage any sort of rough housing.

violent behavior is not right, contract or not-there are things that lead up to real violence that should be dealt with harshly and immediately so that teachers never even see a true fight on campus.

Answer 2

Bystanders can  play a role in bullying.

I believe that if someone witnesses someone being bullied and does nothing about it, they are just as guilty as the bully themselves. It's VERY IMPORTANT for adults to intervene WHEN THEY SEE BULLYING, or are made aware of it. Everyone should keep their eyes open and speak up when they witness bullying happen.

Low levels of supervision at school, particularly on the playground, schoolyard, and in the hallways,  are associated with the development of bully problems in individual kids. The social climate in the school needs to be one where there is WARMTH AND ACCEPTANCE OF ALL STUDENTS, and one where there are high standards for student and teacher behavior toward one another. TEACHER ATTITUDES toward aggression, and skills with supervision and intervention, partly determine how teachers will react to bullying situations. Curricula, administrative policies, and support are  very important.

A comprehensive intervention plan that involves all students, parents, and school staff can help ensure that all students can learn in a safe and fear-free environment.

There is a website for kids about bullying--written by kids and for kids---

you might want to check it out. http://bullyingcanada.ca/

Answer 3

t is not a teachers job to break up fights  

Answer 4

I have to say that while its the job of the senior teachers - like Principle , vice and head of discipline to put a stop to all this behavior, teachers generally close one eye when they  encounter such a situation.

There have been cases of students attacking teachers instead when confronted or trying to resolve the situation.

In some cases, teachers are actually told to close one eye , especially is the student in question is rich ( mayor's son, etc you get my point)

Reasons being,  not because teachers don't want to help, but some young teachers are inexperience with such situations and yes, they do avoid risks at all cost- after all, its their paycheck on the line.

Answer my Question pls :-

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thanks

Answer 5

I take the bully outside and beat him.  No, really, I'm joking there.  

Perhaps this a bit of naivete on my part, but I have no fear of fistfights.  I remember once when I intervened in a case where one student complained the other was attempting to throw him down a flight of stairs.  Wow, that's a potential murder case there.  

On another occasion a student came in and just started socking another student right in the jaw.  I nearly vaulted over my desk and came and bear hugged the student and pulled him off.  I have a friend who is a teacher who said in such cases you should just call security, but what was I supposed to do?  "Doh...I think I'll just wait here and watch as this kid gets beat until security arrives".  Of course I called security, but only after I physically diffused the situation.  

The best instance I ever saw though was not what I did, but what a teacher's aide did.  I was substituting for a music class, and anybody who has substituted for such classes knows you usually either play the movie "Amadeus" or you have an aide conducting the class.  This guy garnered so much respect from the students and had such control that he got a bully to get on his knees and beg forgiveness from the student he was bullying.  It was so cool.

  

Answer 6

Yes, some teachers rather not deal with it and leave it alone, which I detest.   One thing is a fist fight, I would not put myself in harms way, as some of these children are taller than me!  However, when I see bullying, I give the bully a piece of my mind.  I work in an urban neighborhood, and so the children can be quite tough here, and so the way we talk to them needs to be very real.

The prior year I had alot of bullies in my class.   After an incident would occur, we would sit on the carpet in the back of the classroom, and discuss the issue, as a class.   I remember, the teacher telling one of the bullies this  "You think you can pick on whoever you want in here because you are bigger than them?   You think no one will ever hurt you?  Keep with that attitude...just remember, someone will always be bigger and badder than you out there...and  there will be no teachers or principals to protect you!  Put that energy into studying instead of being a big bully!"   She made that kid cry, I almost felt bad, but it was needed, because if she didn't he would think it was ok.  

Some teachers are afraid to be real with these kids...I for one am all about being completely honest with them.  We cant sugar coat things, especially for the older ones.  They need some reality knocked into them...and they need to know that if they try to be a bully they will be called out in front of their peers and embarassed...some of them just dont care about the consequences from authority...they care about their peers first.