Keeping Students Safe: Confronting
the Problems of Bullying,
Harassment, and Violence

CogniFit on 03/16/2023

Bullying has a huge impact on the growth and development of every individual. It deprives millions of young people of potential the right to education. A study conducted by UNESCO found that 30 percent of college students across the world are victims of bullying. And they end up getting poor grades, dropping out of school, and suffering from mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Bullying, harassment, and violence have to be eliminated in every school around the world for individuals to get good grades and achieve their biggest goals in life. In this article, we are going to share with you a few simple tips that you can use to keep students safe.

School Violence

What is school violence? What does it entail? It refers to different types of violence that take place within and around a learning institution. It can be perpetrated not only by fellow students but also by school staff including tutors. Bullying is one of the most popular forms of school violence. Studies show that one in three learners is affected by bullying in college. When you are harassed by others, it can be difficult to grasp key concepts in class and submit your assignments on time. If your tutor requires you to write a pro life argumentative essay, you should consider looking at topics examples, and reading samples online to get ample time to seek help from your school counselor.

Common forms of school violence

A lot of surveys have been done on school violence to discover the most popular forms. They include:

Bullying

This is a behavioral pattern that involves aggressive and intentional behavior occurring multiple times against a victim. It takes different forms such as:

Physical bullying – kicking, hitting, and destroying property
Sexual bullying – Using sexual gestures, comments, or jokes to make fun of a victim. It is also known as sexual harassment.
Psychological bullying – It involves insulting, teasing, and threatening a victim by spreading rumors or excluding them from a social circle.
Cyberbullying – It can take the form of sexual or psychological bullying in the digital space. Common examples include sending pictures, messages, or videos with the aim of threatening, harassing, or targeting an individual through social media platforms. Excluding people from online forums or networks is also a common form of cyberbullying.

Why are students bullied?

Everyone can be bullied at school. However, studies have shown that individuals who are perceived to be different from others physically, culturally or ethnically, and financially are at a higher risk of being victims.

Effects of school violence

Poor academic performance

When an individual is bullied at school, their sense of belonging gets undermined. And they have a hard time staying engaged in the learning process. Victims are likely to feel like outsiders and drop out of school. Individuals with potential can easily fail to achieve their goals.

Mental health issues

The mental health of an individual can be negatively affected by school violence. Harassment and violence lead to loneliness, suicide ideation, substance abuse, and low rates of life satisfaction.

How to make students feel safe in the classroom?

What can schools do about students who bully others? Here are some simple tips:

Come up with a list

As a tutor, one of your key responsibilities is creating a conducive environment for learners. At the beginning of the school year, come up with a list of behaviors that are appropriate in your class. You can also list down inappropriate behaviors and their consequences. Ensure that everyone understands. This is one of the best ways on how to stop discrimination in schools.

Feedback is key

If you are not aware that some individuals are victims, it can be difficult to address school violence. You need to encourage students to communicate with you if someone is making them feel uncomfortable. Keep in mind that cyberbullying is a type of bullying that doesn’t happen in class.

Monitor the school premises

In addition to monitoring your classes, it’s essential to remain vigilant in other areas of the school, such as hallways, to ensure a safe environment for everyone. One valuable resource available to students is the use of school lockers, which offer a secure place to store their valuables and personal belongings. Encouraging students to use lockers not only promotes a clutter-free environment but also helps protect their possessions from potential bullies. When students utilize lockers alongside their peers, it creates a collective atmosphere of safety and makes it harder for bullies to assert dominance. By staying attentive and fostering a culture of responsible locker usage, we can create a nurturing and secure school community where all students feel protected and respected.

Be consistent

You need to be consistent in your stance in and out of class. When you drift, students will think that you were never serious about this issue. And it may encourage harassment and violence. Communicating with your colleagues about this issue and being on the same side will minimize these cases. Show students what schools do about students who harass others.

Show support

If a student reports a case to you, don’t ignore them. As we have seen, school violence has lots of negative effects on an individual. Offering support can help them heal faster and achieve their goals. This also applies to bullies. Communicating with them can help you understand the issues that they are facing.

Conclusion

School violence has been on the rise over the past few years. Thousands of individuals across the world are being affected by it negatively. As a tutor or parent, you need to communicate with your student regularly and get professional help when they need it. Tutors need to work together to prevent this issue instead of dealing with it after spreading it. As the popular saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Using the tips that we’ve discussed here will help you create a conducive learning environment for your students.