Page 14 - IFV Issue 6 June 2024

Today’s Child

HOW TO DEAL WITH

BULLYING BEHAVIOUR

BY NICOLA KILLOPS

ullying is a pandemic. Bullies Why do some children bully others? of action called the Safe Schools
comes in all shapes and sizes, Bullying is intentional, repetitive and Programme, which works with schools
Band sometimes, the act of the result of an imbalance of power. to ensure safe school environments
bullying is so subtle that it is almost Children who bully are often deeply needed for successful teaching
impossible for the victim to articulate insecure and need to empower and learning. According to a study
or pinpoint. It can be physical, themselves by weakening others. There conducted by Safe Schools, bullying is
psychological or emotional. are often issues at home that leave the rampant in South African schools with
But what is bullying exactly? On child desperate for attention, and they about 3.2 million children being bullied
the surface, it’s about children having lash out elsewhere instead of at the root annually.
disagreements or getting into moods of their emotional pain. When surveyed, children defined
and taking this out on a vulnerable Delving deeper, it’s often discovered bullying as both verbal and physical
child. On a deeper level, it’s about a that the bully is or was themself a victim of abuse, and more than 67% of children
child showing a disturbingly mean bullying at some point. It’s a distorted way who had been bullied did not seek
streak and going all out to pick on one of paying it forward to regain self-esteem. help from an adult because they didn’t
or more of his or her peers and to then believe it would do any good or they
ostracise them by teasing, mocking, Ensuring safety at school feared that reporting it could make the
humiliating, belittling or physically The Western Cape Education situation worse. In South Africa, there is
attacking them. Department has established a plan a lot of pressure on children and adults

12 • Issue 6 2024 • The Villager