Appropriate Responses to the Bullying Crisis

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Appropriate Responses to the Bullying Crisis

Introduction

Bullying behavior can occur in several forms and situations, and the definition of bullying includes the following three components. First, bullying involves intentional and aggressive behavior designed to intimidate, harass, exclude, destroy property, or physically injure others. The verbal behavior can take the form of threats, name-calling, teasing, demands for money or services, spreading of rumors, and/or obscene gestures.

Some of these behaviors result in indirect bullying, such as spreading rumors; others are direct behaviors, such as name-calling. Physical behaviors designed to bully are direct and can include tripping, shoving, pushing, or hitting. However, bullying is more likely to take the form of verbal intimidation than physical attacks. Second, for behavior to reach the level of bullying it must occur repeatedly (albeit not necessarily in the same form) and over time. Third, the victim must perceive the bully as more powerful than himself or herself in terms of physical strength, popularity, or competence.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

According to Boyle (2005), bullying is a global chronic problem that is the intentional act of harming or causing harm to others. Bullying can be conducted through physical or verbal assault which causes fear. The problem at the study site is that bullying behaviors are a major discipline problem. It is documented that thirty to fifty percent of the discipline problems recorded and attended to at the study site are related directly to bullying behaviors. A program evaluation will be implemented to determine whether the reestablished appropriate responses are effective to curtail bullying.

The bullying problem in the school is seriously impacting the students and learning program. Few staff members at the study site are trained in any form of peer mediation; therefore, bullying behaviors at the study site are addressed with disciplinary action such as detention or suspension, which are shown to be unsuccessful in reducing bullying behaviors (Skiba& Peterson, 2003).

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study will be to examine the effects of appropriate responses on bullying crises at an urban middle school. The study will also examine whether reestablishing the appropriate responses at the study site will have an effect on curtailing bullying. This study will use a mixed methods approach to examine bullying at the school in the study. The appropriate responses to the bullying crises at this site, dissolved due to lack of leadership and management.

Since addressing individual bullying is seldom effective at the study site, a school-wide effort to raise awareness and empower peers to fight against this problem is crucial. Schoolstaff and students must actively participate in efforts to curtail bullying problems (Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, 2008). Student behavioral interventions have become necessary in order for schools to effectively manage overall school discipline policies (Boyle, 2005). A number of case studies demonstrate that appropriate responses can reduce the amount of bullying in school (Jones, 2004; Mayorga, 2008; Noaks&Noaks, 2009; Wessler& Andrade, 2006).

The teacher's responses on the survey helped determine whether staff members at the studysite ...