School Bullying

School Bullying & Cyber Bullying: An Inside Peak With

Sandra Mitchell, M. Ed.

Liberty University

What is Bullying?

In interviewing an elementary school teacher with years of experience, it was found that bullying comes in three forms: unwanted, aggressive conduct, and the ability to be repeated over time. Bullying then turns into a combination of factors that cause a situation to escalate from conflict to harassment. Bullying is an intentional behavior that is meant to hurt and rule the next individual. Distinguished by power between the child and the bully, it can be physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual. This also includes bullying via e-mail, social media websites, and instant messaging.

Effective Tools & Vulnerability to Bullying

I contacted Sandra Mitchell, M.Ed, for a knowledgeable discussion of how school bullying and cyber bullying affects children, school environment, parents, and teachers. Mrs. Mitchell has been teaching elementary education for over 30 years and has become well acquainted with the changing of technology in today’s society. To start the interview process, I asked Mrs. Mitchell what is the most effective tool used to prevent bullying? I also asked her which students were the most vulnerable to bullying. Her response to effectiveness is to use prevention. The school system would create an inclusive learning environment that supports all students, educators, and maintain a space that is unreceptive to those trying to bully. Everyone, including administrators, teachers, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, assistants, substitute teachers, parents/guardians, as well as students, have a role to play in implementing an anti-bullying environment in the school; the climate starts from the school bus to the classroom. Mrs. Mitchell also mentioned that any child may be targeted for bullying, but only certain ones are at a higher risk. Teachers, parents, and other faculty should pay close attention to those children that display the...