ISSN: 0976-3759

Journal of
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A National School Social Work monthly dedicated to networking of parents and teachers.
Volume VII Issue 07 Contents December 2010
Page
Editorial 02
Curbing Cyber Bullying Rekha N Mistry 03
Steps to Reduce Peer Bullying Raja P
Dr Saraswathi L 09
Therapies for Bullies and Bullied Uma L 13
Bullying – An Overview Lucy Josephine A
Dr Kalamathi A 16
Behaviourism and Bullying Radha Vallury 19
Bullying : A Psycho-social Disorder Kalaiarasi M 22
Bullying: A Social Evil Padmini M 26
Anti-bullying: Role of Parents Rani Manda 29
Can Bullying be Eradicated? Sripriya P
Dr Kalaimathi A 31

Journal of S C H O O L SOCIAL WORK
Focus: Bullying
Hony. Special Editor: Ramesh K S,
Head and Student Consellor, P G Department of Social Work
Mar Gregorios College, Mogappair, Chennai
Journal of School Social W ork,
8 (New 14), Sridevi Colony, Seventh Avenue,
Ashok Nagar, Chennai 600 083
Mobile: 98406 02325 E-mail: jssw.india@gmail.com
Note: Views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily the official view of the Journal.
December 2010 Journal of S C H O O L SOCIAL WORK December 2010 01
Editorial Can Bullies Go Scot-free? Focus Anti-bullying: Role of Parents
Earth is considered as Mother in teachers between 2002 and 2005 Rani Manda*
Hindu Mythology and meant to across Dehra Dun, Mussoorie and * Rani Manda, Academic Consultant, Department of Social Work,
provide equal space and opportunity Chandigarh found that students had Vikramasimhapuri University, Nellore, 524001, AP.
to all organisms that are inter bullying experiences both on the Introduction others may be lack of empathy, a
dependent on each other to live playground and in the classrooms. Although, bullying is common in all propensity to question authority and
peacefully. The human race, being The report also says, even in the age schools, only half of the children push limits or break rules, worship of
unique has taken control over all the group of 14 to 18 years, 58.7% boys report, what is happening in their violence and the ability to talk their
other species and edged them out and 65.09% girls reported bullying. schools, to a parent and even fewer way out of difficult situations.
with the so called sixth sense. And Forms of bullying may vary among to a teacher. Especially the rural girl Although, some of the bullies may
now, through bullying, some of us boys and girls but the news that more students do not report for fear that even be popular, the popularity of a
want to edge out the weak, deprived than 2,300 children committed they will be stopped by their parents bully tends to decrease at higher-
and voiceless ones amongst us. suicide last year many of which from attending school. Sometimes grade levels. Further studies have
According to Dan Olweus, the directly attributed to bullying at bullying can also be perpetrated by proved that envy and resentment
Swedish researcher, bullying can be schools, is shocking to say the least. teachers and the school system itself. may be the motives of bullying. Care
physical, psychological, emotional, That ‘bullying’ happens at every Any harsh punishment given to of parents and teachers will help
social or economic independently or stage of life, at all the times and in all students in the name of discipline victims to fight against bullying and
in any combination. Modernity has parts of the world is not an excuse. tantamounts to bullying by the the aggressors to mend their ways.
added a new menace in the form of But, if it happens in India with its authorities. As parents we have to Therefore, it is very necessary for
cyber bullying. culture of demonstrated tolerance find their deficits and equip our parents to take the right steps to ease
The largest research on violence even towards the aggressors, it is to children with coping skills to manage the situation.
against children (of both sexes) be considered seriously and every any situation and arrive at a Role of parents
conducted in 2007 by the Ministry of effort made to nip it in the bud. negotiated settlement and not be àIf your child is being bullied, do
Women and Child Development, So, school social workers have to be violent or be violated upon. not take it lightly. Teach the child to
Government of India revealed that appointed to make schools safe for Factors of bullying be confident and brave.
two out of three children were children. Correcting bullies without There is no single reason why some à Make sure that the child
physically abused and every other compromising the bullied, is the real children become bullies or victims. understands that he must not be
child faced one or more forms of challenge for School Social Work. Children who are impulsive, blamed by others.
sexual abuse. But, is bullying restricted to children dominant, confrontational or easily à Perhaps, these children may
The Bullying Research Initiative in and commoners? Not so anymore. frustrated may also prone to have develop low self-esteem and begin
Training and Education (BRITE) in its if WikiLeaks is to be believed, even bullying behaviours. And other doubting themselves.
survey of school students and diplomats are bullies! characteristics of children who bully àSometimes they may feel that
02 Journal of S C H O O L SOCIAL WORK December 2010 Journal of S C H O O L SOCIAL WORK December 2010 29
 something must be wrong with
them.
àMake sure you let your child know
that he is as equal as and as
important as anybody else.
àListen to your child fully and don’t
cut them short or blame them.
àIt can be very difficult for them to
talk to anyone about it.
àTalk with your child and work out
ways of solving the problem.
àNever encourage retaliation or
hurting the bully in any way.
àFind out the bullies and talk with
their parents.
à Raise it in the PTA (Parent-
Teacher Association) meeting.
School based programmes
Every child has a right to be treated
respectfully. Schools play a pivotal
role to stop bullying because most
aggression happens on school
grounds during recess, in lunch
rooms, or in latrines. It is strongly
believed that school based
programmes can help reduce
References:
Martin NC (2008): Children in Self-care, Journal of School Social Work, V-07,
pp 23.
Rani Manda (2009): Cyber Communication- Scope for Counselling, Journal of
School Social Work, VI-03, pp 15.
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/School bullying
www.stopbullyingnow.com/
30 Journal of S C H O O L SOCIAL WORK
bullying when they raise awareness
of bullying through the school
assemblies and classroom
discussions. These talks should
include the art of accepting
differences, healthy ways to control
anger and understanding the plight
of children with special needs. They
should be taught the value of co-
operation, communication skills and
friendship. All schools should have
a zero tolerance policy to bullying.
Conclusion
Bullying is a social menace. It has a
long term effect on the victim
resulting in academic under
achievement or even an attempt to
end one’s life. However, violence
can’t be curbed by violence. Punitive
means of correction backfires. The
victim is shocked and may even feel
guilty when the aggressor is
punished or humiliated. In the mean
time, showing kindness where
firmness is the natural consequence
confuses the bully. Use discretion.
December 2010
Focus Can Bullying be Eradicated?
Sripriya P*
Kalaimathi A**
*Sripriya P, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Tamil Nadu Empowerment
and Poverty Reduction Project, Chennai
**Dr Kalaimathi A, Professor and Director i/c, Mother Teresa Women’s University,
Kodaikanal.
Introduction head, will not look people in the eye,
Bullying is a phenomenon adversely and backs off from others and
affecting many aspects of one’s life comes home with unexplainable
and is indulged in clandestinely by scratches and bruises. Suddenly
both boys and girls of all ages. develops a stammer or stutter,
Identification of the aggressor and Sudden change in behaviour (bed-
the victim is very important to initiate wetting, nail-biting, tics)
necessary remedial measures. à Angry, irritable, disruptive,
Signs of being bullied aggressive, quick-tempered, and
Parents and teachers must watch out fights back (but always loses).
the signs of children being bullied at àFeelings of insecurity – cautious,
the early stage. Early identification clinging, anxious and fearful.
will reduce the menace of bullying àOverly concerned about safety.
and may even eradicate it. àSpends a lot of time and effort
à Sudden decrease in school thinking or worrying about getting
attendance or skipping certain safely to and from school and
classes and decline in quality of getting around in the school (to and
academic performance. from lunch/ latrine).
àComplaints of frequent illness or àTalks about avoiding certain areas
feigned illness (headaches, of the school or certain routes.
stomachaches, pains) Identification of the bully
àDifficulty in concentrating in class àSeeks to dominate or manipulate
and easily distracted. Seems happy others (Olweus, 1993)
on weekends but unhappy and àHas a gang around mostly.
preoccupied or tense on Mondays. àImpulsive with low tolerance of
àOften hunches shoulders, hangs frustration (Olweus, 1993).
Journal of S C H O O L SOCIAL WORK December 2010 31
Journal of School Social Work English Monthly. ISSN: 0976-3759
Registered with Registrar of Newspapers for India underNo.TNENG/2004/14389.
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Licensed to post under WPP No. TN/CC(S) Dn/ 34/09-11.
àLoves to win at all cost. A poor studies say they may do poorly
and boastful winner. (Schwartz, 2006; Ericson, 2001).
àSadistically enjoys others’ hurt. àBully can be a victim of bullying
àInterprets ambiguous or innocent (Crawford, 2002).
acts as purposeful and hostile and Conclusion
strikes out at others. Parents, teachers, administrators,
àHave no empathy or compassion law enforcing authorities and media
for others (Olweus, 1993). together with counselling
àIs more likely to get into trouble, professionals can fight the deep
smoke, drink, and fight (Nansel et rooted malignancy. Awareness
al., 2001; Ericson, 2001) programmes, remedial classes, peer
àBreaks school/ class rules mediation and project works that
àDefiant or oppositional to adults. foster friendship can be employed to
àAntisocial or lacks social skills. foster values of human dignity, living
àHas average or above-average with diversity and the much needed
performance in school. Some empathy to eradicate bullying.
References:
Olweus D(1993): Bullying at School: What We Know and What We Can Do,
Blackwell, Cambridge.
Nansel T R et al. (2001): Bullying behaviours among US youth: Prevalence and
association with psychosocial adjustment. Journal of the American Medical
Association, 285(16), 2094–2100.
Schwartz, D et al (1998): Peer group victimization as a predictor of children’s
behaviour problems at home and in school, Development and Psychopathology,
10, 87–99.
www.ncjrs.gov/ pdffiles1/ojjdp/fs200127.pdf.
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32 Journal of S C H O O L SOCIAL WORK December 2010 Journal of S C H O O L SOCIAL WORK December 2010