It’s no secret that bullying has become a major issue within schools worldwide. From spreading malicious rumours to physical harm, bullying takes shape in many forms and can have lingering effects on learners. If you’re studying a teaching degree, you should know that this is a problem you’ll need to address many times over the course of your teaching career.
Whilst teacher education qualifications like a B.Ed degree can help prepare you for what lies ahead, it helps to understand how you can discourage bullying in your classroom. Taking steps to prevent it is a sure way to establish your class and the school as a safe space where students can fulfil their true potential.
Here are a few ways that teachers can help eradicate bullying and encourage a happy and healthy learning environment.
Talk about the forms of bullying with students
Students need to know the various forms that bullying can take, as well as the impact that it can have. This will build an emotional intelligence and an empathy within learners, encouraging them to decide against targeting others. It’s also important to ensure that they understand the consequences of these actions for both the victim and the bully. By knowing that there are penalties for those who knowingly harm other students, they’ll be less likely to be the cause of upset at school.
Make themselves visible during the school day
The presence of an educator in the classroom and on the field during break times will help limit any incidents. If learners see you in places where bullying could occur, they’ll be less likely to commit any acts. Teachers should encourage their schools to have increased supervision in areas where bullying has happened in the past.
Be aware of the signs
The truth is, there are several different types of bullies. Educators need to understand that girls and boys act out differently. Males usually resort to physical actions and females are more inclined to use their words to hurt fellow learners. Teachers should take note of learners who appear withdrawn and isolated from their classmates. These could very well be victims of bullying.
Keep the channels of communication open
Every educator should strive to build trust with each child in their class. By making an effort to ask each student how they are doing and how they are finding the year so far, you’ll be more likely to pick up anything out of the ordinary. Whilst those being bullied might not reach out to you, those who have witnessed it will. This will require handling the situation diplomatically to get to the bottom of it without implicating the child who told you.
You could make a difference in the lives of many
At The IIE’s Varsity College, we pride ourselves on education programmes that help graduates take life to the next level. If you’re interested in becoming a world-class educator, an IIE Bachelor of Education degree could be the start of a promising career. For more on teaching qualifications click here.
Varsity College is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE). South Africa’s leading private higher education provider that’s registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training and accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC).