| Bullying is a problem at all levels of school, bullying involves destructive and hurtful behaviors that can become insurmountable barriers to children in making positive connections with other students. Bullying and being victimized by bullies have been recognized as health problems for school children because of their association with a range of adjustments problems – such as poor mental health, violent behavior, and poor school performance.
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Bullying at school is a significant problem for both boys and girls, both bullies and their victims are at risk for poor adjustment.
Bullying is defined as aggressive behavior, repeated over time,that is intentionally harmful and occurs without provocation. Bullying behaviors include not only physical aggression but also verbal harassment and public humiliation such as name calling, spreading rumors, and ostracism. Emotional and social bullying is a serious concern for children, and recent school shootings and violence suggest that it is not physical abuse by peers, but rather the inability to cope with social ridicule and rejection, that can fuel extreme outbursts of violence. Research on the degree to which boys and girls are bullied has been conducted in many different countries. In general, rates of bullying during elementary school vary from a low of 11 percent in Finland to a high of almost 50 percent in Ireland. In general, more boys than girls bully others, and more boys than girls are victims of bullying. Boys are more likely to engage in physical bullying.
Bullies and victims of bullying are both at risk for some adjustment problems. Bullies are likely to have behavior problems, perform poorly in school, and be more at a risk for using cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs. However, bullies often make friends easily and enjoy high social standing among their classmates, although classmates may not particularly want to spend time with them. Children who are victimized by bullies are more at risk for emotional and academic problems than are the bullies themselves. Bullied children have difficulty making friends, experience loneliness, and are anxious and depressed. Show increased rates of school absenteeism, physical health complaints, and feelings of hopelessness (Swearer, Grills, Haye & Cary, 2004). Long term studies of the effects of bullying indicate that even as adults, victims continue to feel angry and bitter about the bullying they suffered as children. They received adults who did experience as more fearful of social relationships, are more likely to be loners, and have lower self-esteem.
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Bully-victims seem to have the high levels of rejection, conduct problems and school difficulties. Also are at risk for future conduct problems and future violent and delinquent behavior.
The most widely recognized function of school is to provide children with basic intellectual skills such as the ability to read, write, and do arithmetic. Also equally important, function children’s social and emotional development. Children must learn to cooperate with teachers and other children and to deal with a diverse population of peers.
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The functioning and structure of the classroom is generally task-oriented-daily classroom activities revolve around specific objectives. Preset performance standards are in place and children’s abilities to meet these standards vary. This structure focuses the attention of both the teacher and the students on differences in abilities and motivation, making competition and comparisons more likely than they were before children began school.
As they acquire a better understanding of school and its demands, they also learn a great deal about self-control.
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