WHAT works to combat bullying in schools?
Peter Dankmeijer, director GALE 10-05-2020 12:52
Many high schools have no clue about when their antibullying policy is effective. We looked in to the research literature and found these 6 key elements of effective policies (video 5 38) https //youtu.be/i2tFUjem4fM
Peter Dankmeijer, director GALE 10-05-2020 12:56
In the ABC-manual and in the kick-off video for this discussion, we identified 6 elements of antibullying policy that are bases on scientific evidence
1. Start the school year with creating safe class groups
2. Learn how bullying works (group processes)
3. Involve everyone to get commitment
4. Support positive behavior, avoid putdowns and punishment
5. Focus on the entire school climate, avoid limited attention to incidents
6. Revise the school rules in the first 6 week of the year, together
It looks like number one is the most important one, and number two is the one we find in most antibulling programs that have been tested. The other ones have been less researched in the context of bullying but are also likely to have an influence. What do you think?
Sapalidou Pavlina 10-05-2020 16:31
Firstly, I believe that the most impornant persons in a school are the teachers. If there are capable teachers who want to help the students about the bullying and know how to approach them they can do anything. They can teach them that they have to solve their problems using disscusion and that there are no punishments. After that, they could create the groups that other students can go there to feel safety. Generally, the most imporntant is the teacher.
Maria Koufi 10-05-2020 20:59
1)Provided schools create safe class groups,students are going to feel safe and,hence it is school where we spent the majority of our time and energy,it is vital for us to feel this way.
2)Getting a closer look of the way bullying works can be important because when we understand the importance of the problem we get more passionate about combatting it.
3)Combatting bullying needs everyone's commitment and that is doable once everyone is involved.Generally,when schools make decisions about a policy of theirs it is crucial that everyone gets involved so that the school's efforts are profitable.
4)Supporting positive behaviors is key for motivating students to keep doing the right thing.Furthermore,avoiding putdowns and punishment allows them to understand the importance of discussion.
5)It is important for schools to be a bound group,to work as a unit.So focusing on the entire school climate and not on incidents can be effective.
6)The revision of the rules a school has created to combat bullying the first week of each school year can assure that students are familiar with them and see them as a part of their school life.I mean that it is easier for students to follow them when they are reminded of them and for new students to realize that bullying has no place in our lives.
ANNA BAFITI 17-05-2020 13:01
All the proposed methods are suitable and necessary to deal with bullying. Their combination would be very effective.
Christine Karagianni 18-05-2020 08:22
Each criterion has its role and functionality within a school that must work in all these directions to create an environment that is equal and safe for all