Defining school bullying and its implications on education, teachers and learners
![bullying in high school essay defining school bullying](https://www.unesco.org/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_medium_desktop/article/2023-11/defining%20school%20bullying.jpg?itok=iM7SO-SG)
Contributing to UNESCO’s work on fostering safe learning environments , which addresses many different forms of violence, the UNESCO Chair on Bullying and Cyberbullying, in collaboration with the World Anti-Bullying Forum (WABF), led an international working group to create a more holistic and inclusive definition of school bullying. Professor James O’Higgins Norman, UNESCO Chair on Bullying and Cyberbullying, shares his insights on this work.
![](http://rss3.fun/777/templates/cheerup/res/banner1.gif)
Why revisit the definition of bullying?
Many current anti-bullying programmes in schools are rooted in early definitions characterizing bullying as an “unwanted aggressive behavior that is repeated over time and involves an imbalance of power or strength”. While this was groundbreaking at the time and advanced the work of researchers, policy makers, educators and others, evolving perspectives have deepened our understanding of bullying.
Research shows that progress in reducing school bullying has been slow, with only a 19% decrease in perpetration and a 15% drop in the rate of learners facing bullying. This means we must reassess our understanding and approaches to bullying, especially in our increasingly complex world, where both in-person and online bullying intertwine with personal and societal issues.
How are you revisiting the definition of bullying?
As a UNESCO Chair, my role involves facilitating interdisciplinary research and dialogue, and working towards a more holistic approach to bullying. Our recommendation for a ‘whole-education’ approach to tackle bullying recognizes individual, contextual, and societal dimensions.
With support from UNESCO and the WABF, I facilitated the working group to revisit the definition of bullying, consulting scholars, policymakers and practitioners worldwide. We gathered feedback from a diverse group and have conducted wide consultations. This working group was launched following the recommendations by a Scientific Committee on preventing and addressing school bullying and cyberbullying, convened by UNESCO and the French Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.
What would a revised definition mean for education policymakers and practitioners, for school communities and learners?
The proposed definition promotes a holistic and inclusion-driven approach to tackling bullying and violence in schools and in online spaces.
Crafting a more inclusive definition has the potential to break down academic and professional barriers, encouraging cooperation between sectors, and among scholars, policymakers, educators, and learners. It provides a solid foundation to better understand bullying particularly regarding those most marginalized due to appearance, ethnicity, gender, social class, or sexuality, among others. Bullying is a complex issue tied to individual, contextual, and structural factors, making collaboration essential.
Together, we can deepen our understanding and address not only the behavior but also the underlying systems and ideologies supporting bullying.
What is your vision for this improved definition of school bullying?
My vision aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, on education, in that our work on bullying, and all other forms of school violence, is aimed at ensuring an inclusive and equitable quality education and the promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all.
![](http://rss3.fun/777/templates/cheerup/res/banner1.gif)
What message do you have for teachers and learners?
To teachers and school staff: Do not accept bullying as normal. Create a safe classroom environment by setting clear expectations for kindness and respect, remain vigilant for signs of bullying, stay informed about effective prevention strategies, and promptly address any incidents. Implement a robust anti-bullying policy. Under the idea of a ‘whole-education’ approach, collaborate with colleagues and parents, incorporate empathy and anti-bullying content into the curriculum, and use collaborative learning methods.
To learners: Report bullying, be confident in recognizing and responding to it, and encourage bystander intervention. You have the power to stop bullying.
New definition and what’s next?
The working group presented its proposed revised definition of school bullying at the WABF held in October 2023. The proposed definition reads:
School bullying is a damaging social process that is characterized by an imbalance of power driven by social (societal) and institutional norms. It is often repeated and manifests as unwanted interpersonal behaviour among students or school personnel that causes physical, social, and emotional harm to the targeted individuals or groups, and the wider school community.
This new inclusive definition of school bullying was largely welcomed by delegates at the Forum. The UNESCO Chair and WABF hope that this revised definition will contribute to opening a new chapter in the global conversation on the nature of and responses to bullying and cyberbullying.
For UNESCO, the new definition of bullying reflects our approach and work to ensure that schools are safe and supportive learning environments. This means that to end all forms of school violence, including bullying, we must understand that these behaviours do not happen in isolation, that there are different drivers of violence, and that a ‘whole-education’ approach is needed.
More information
Related items.
- International Day Against Violence and Bullying at School, including Cyberbullying
- Health education
- Topics: Display
- See more add
![bullying in high school essay The “Change the Game” Sport Conference - Ministerial Forum](https://www.unesco.org/sites/default/files/styles/small_fixed/article/2024-06/article-event_jo_03_0.jpg?itok=vdwsHUrb&width=289&height=192)
Other recent news
![bullying in high school essay Celebrating the day of the African child: Investing in health education for young people today for a better tomorrow](https://www.unesco.org/sites/default/files/styles/small_fixed/article/2024-06/img_8971.jpg?itok=NWmwq7w5&width=289&height=192)
![](http://rss3.fun/777/templates/cheerup/res/banner1.gif)
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Bullying peaks during middle school years (i.e. 12-15 years), and tends to decrease by the end of high school (Hymel & Swearer, Citation 2015). With respect to the forms of bullying, with increasing age there appears to be a shift from physical bullying to indirect and relational bullying (Rivers & Smith, Citation 1994).
1. Psychological: Being a victim of bullying was associated with increased depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Victims of bullying reported more suicidal thinking and engaged in greater self ...
Abstract: School bullying is a significant problem affecting high school students. This article. provides an overview of the causes and consequences of bullying, as well as prevention. and coping ...
This essay aims to explore how bullying affects the academic performance of high school students and the need for greater intervention to address this issue. Say no to plagiarism. ... Bullying Should Be Kicked From School Essay. Bullying in schools is a pervasive issue that affects countless students every day, leading to detrimental effects on ...
Published: Dec 16, 2021. It is common to see bullying happen in the high school age group. Many teenagers often believe they can get away with bullying due to their lack of consequences or unclear consequences. Due to the advancement of technology, kids now have another source of bullying; social media. Children are no longer able to escape the ...
Bullying is mostly evident when there is an imbalance of power among individuals. Get a custom essay on Bullying in School. For instance, powerful or influential people are said to practice or bully other learners (Olweus, 1993, p. 20). In addition to this, those in power tend to bully others with an aim of making them feel less powerful.
It reduces a range of problems like anxiety, emotional distress, and depression; reduces disruptive behaviors like conflicts, aggression, bullying, anger, and hostile attribution bias; and it improves academic achievement, creativity, and leadership. A 2012 study of 36 first-grade teachers showed that when teachers were more emotionally ...
School violence, including bullying, is widespread: one in three learners is bullied at school every month globally. The growing use of digital devices has exacerbated cyberbullying. In 2019, at least 10% of learners aged 8-10 had experienced cyberbullying, rising to 20% of learners aged 12-14. School violence can leave long-lasting impacts on learners' safety, physical and mental health ...
Bullying is considered to be a significant public health problem with both short- and long-term physical and social-emotional consequences for youth. A large body of research indicates that youth who have been bullied are at increased risk of subsequent mental, emotional, health, and behavioral problems, especially internalizing problems, such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and ...
250 Words Essay on Bullying in Schools Introduction. Bullying in schools is a pervasive issue that affects students' academic performance and emotional well-being. It is a detrimental act, characterized by the intention to cause harm, repetition, and power imbalance between the bully and the victim. Prevalence and Impacts
Bullying victims suffer from a range of problems, including higher rates of emotional disturbances such as depression and anxiety (Long & Alexander). Victims of bullying are at a greater risk of committing suicide, using drugs and alcohol, and becoming detached from social settings such as school and family (Brank et al).
The Issue of Bullying in the Schools Essay. This paper attempts to look at the issue of bullying in the schools. A personal story about how I was bullied when I was young is included. The paper looks at this issue by considering aspects like causes and forms of bullying as well as examples of bullying cases. Get a custom essay on The Issue of ...
Introduction. High school bullying manifests in more ways than one. It may be perpetrated through emotional, verbal, or physical abuse. Basically, those who bully their fellow students exert some level of subtle coercion on their subjects and do it repeatedly such that they dominate their subjects in a social or physical manner (Levinson, 2002 ...
Published: 2021/11/05. Number of words: 1829. School bullying can be defined as the situation in which one or more students (The Bullies) single out a child (victim) and intend in behavior intended to cause discomfort or harm the child. A bully will repeatedly target the same victim several times.
The Effects of School Bullying. School bullying has far-reaching and detrimental effects on the lives of those involved. These effects extend beyond the school environment and can impact the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of individuals: Psychological Impact: Victims of bullying often experience anxiety, depression, low self-esteem ...
The effects of bullying, as mentioned above, can be very traumatizing. Victims of bullying may opt to drop out of school because of the trauma they experience. Others may develop irresponsible behavior that involves missing classes on most occasions. School irregularities among the learners result in poor performance.
Mental Health Impact. One of the primary consequences of bullying in schools is its impact on the mental health of the victims. Studies have shown that victims of bullying are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues than their peers who have not been bullied. The constant fear and stress caused by bullying ...
Kids who are bullied are more likely to experience: Depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy. These issues may persist into adulthood. Decreased academic achievement—GPA and standardized test scores—and school participation.
500+ Words Essay on Bullying. Bullying refers to aggressive behavior so as to dominate the other person. It refers to the coercion of power over others so that one individual can dominate others. It is an act that is not one time, instead, it keeps on repeating over frequent intervals. The person (s) who bullies others can be termed as bullies ...
Submit an Essay ... students occurred at least once a week during the 2023-24 school year, and 18 percent said bullying occurred at ... National Spelling Bee Prepared Me for High School.
Bullying and Harassment in the Healthcare Workplace. This paper is written to explore the origins of discrimination and harassment in the healthcare workplace. Bullying begins early in medical college and residencies; it has been referred to as an element of the learning […] The ABC Model of Crisis: Bullying at School.
Sometimes, though, the victims are able to get some sweet revenge. Check out this story to see a great example of that. Revenge on a bully. I was 8 years old and moved from the great outdoors of ...
High-School Essay. Essay on Bullying in High School. Bullying is undoubtedly a complex phenomenon, to the spread of which many factors contribute. For example, the need to be the centre of attention, the need to form a group and to show one's own strength by attacking others. All these reasons have something in common: loneliness, for example ...
Forms of bullying. Problem and solution topics on bullying, abuse, and violence are pressing now. Cyberbullying preventive practices at educational institutions. Effective strategies for recognizing bullying. Psychological support for those who faced bullying. Comprehensive laws for bullying prevention. Mass media about consequences of bullying.
Moreover, targets of bullying are at a high risk of developing mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety disorders. 7 While research continues to emerge and unfold about the long-term impact of bullying on a person's psychosocial behavior, studies show that as many as 75% of bullied victims report higher likelihood to develop mental ...
When bullying occurs, it causes oppression to the affected parties thus affecting their social life and studies in the case of students. This paper is therefore an analysis of the possible causes and ways of preventing instances of bullying in schools by the police. Past and present approaches of addressing the issue of bullying in schools will ...
Jealousy, attention-seeking, low self-esteem, stress and traumas are other causes for bullying. Regardless of the reasons, at the end of the day the bully him or herself is solely responsible. It is a very dangerous act, as it can lead to numerous serious and extensive effects. Side effects range all the way from poor appetite and non-stop ...
The essay discusses their feelings of social alienation and the meticulous planning of their attack, highlighting how bullying and mental health issues contributed to their actions. It also addresses the broader impact of the Columbine tragedy on American society, including changes in school safety policies, mental health awareness, and the ...
Crafting a clear and compelling thesis statement in middle school lays the foundation for advanced essay writing in high school and beyond. ... Art and music classes are as important as core subjects in middle school. Bullying in schools can have long-term mental effects on victims. Thesis Statement Examples for 8th Grade Students.