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 | What
is known about bullying? - Bullying
can occur in any group of people whatever its type or size or the age of its members.
- Research
suggests that about half the pupils in our schools have been bullied at some time
during their school careers. It seems likely that a similar proportion of adults
has experienced bullying at some time.
- Only
a minority of people are seriously bullied, but this is a significant minority
and some have their lives altered as a result.
- There
are many different forms of bullying. At one end of the spectrum it merges into
relatively harmless teasing and at the other it becomes serious assault or harassment.
- Verbal
and psychological bullying can be just as harmful and hurtful as physical violence.
- Sexual
and racial harassment are particularly serious forms of bullying.
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| Why
is bullying a community issue? The
concern about bullying in Scottish schools which started to develop about 10 years
ago has helped to raise awareness about the harm caused by bullying and aggression
elsewhere in society. Incidents have been reported in voluntary youth and adult
organisations, the armed forces, prison, the workplace etc. The
wider community beyond the school gates needs to address this issue for a number
of reasons including: - Bullying
is an infringement of an individual’s rights
- A
community or organisation which condones or ignores bullying loses respect
- Adults
should provide non-bullying role models for young people
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| Helping
schools Community
groups can work with schools to reduce the level of bullying among young people.
An episode of bullying is rarely confined to one situation. For example, an incident
at a youth club may well be linked to something which has happened earlier in
the day at school. It is helpful if youth leaders and teachers have discussed
procedures for dealing with problems like this. Some
organisations have helped to provide schools with anti-bullying resources. For
example, Grampian Police and Rotary International have both supported the production
and distribution of anti-bullying CD-ROMs for use in the classroom.
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| What
should youth and community groups do? The
development of anti-bullying policies in schools provides a model for any group
in society. - Awareness
of the scope and nature of the problem can be raised through research and discussion.
- A
policy should be developed outlining how bullying can be prevented and how incidents
are dealt with after they have happened. If it is to work, such a policy must
involve all members of the organisation.
- Bullying
behaviour of all kinds must be challenged. Everybody must get a clear message
that bullying is wrong.
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| More
information - Spotlight
43 - Finding out about Bullying [available here]
- A
leaflet about ParentLine Scotland
- Information
about conferences being organised by the Anti-Bullying Network [go here]
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| Important
numbers - 0800
44 1111 - the ChildLine Bullying Line is for young people who have
a problem with bullying.
- 0808
800 2222 - ParentLine Scotland aims to help parents with any kind
of worry or problem.
- 0141
339 9232 – the Workplace Bullying Information Line Scotland
is open 7-9 pm on Tuesday evenings and 10-12 noon on Saturday mornings [visit
our workplace
section]
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| Useful
reading A
Community Approach to Bullying by Peter Randall (1996) pub, Trentham
Books: ISBN 185856060 Bullying:
Home, School and Community by Delwyn Tattum and Graham Herbert (1997)
pub. David Fulson Publishers: ISBN 1853464457
Bullying - A Community
Approach by Brendan Byrne (1994) pub. The Columba Press: ISBN 1856071030
Bully in Sight:
How to Predict, Resist, Challenge and Combat Workplace Bullying by Tim
Field (1996) pub. Success Unlimited: ISBN 0952912104 Adults
Bullying - Perpetrators and Victims by Peter Randall (1997) pub, Routledge:
ISBN 0415126738 You
may also want to read the following information sheets that we have produced:
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