Where Does Bullying Begin and End
Bullying has been a constant in schools for many years, and the competitive nature of people in such a setting may bring out the worst in otherwise good kids.
Usually bullying can be traced to some other root cause like problems at home, personal insecurities, preconceived notions of normalcy or even peer pressure. That isn’t always the case though, and sometimes it is far more difficult to pinpoint where the problem might arise. If a child faces some kind of bullying at home, they are likely to return with the same learned behavior to the playground or classroom.
Bullying as a learned behavior is probably one of the more common forms of bullying, and many children who are filed into this category may be pigeon holed. They are automatically bullies, because it is the only reaction that they know. The root cause for this behavior is with the parents of the child whether they are willing to admit it or not. In this case, outside intervention may help or hinder the situation, and it is nigh impossible to know how best to approach the situation without some degree of counseling.
On the other hand, a child may see that kind of behavior as demonstrated by one of his classmates, and then imitate it for its seemingly acceptable appearance among the other students. It could also stem from the desire not to be picked on him or herself. The fear of a reproach by a seemingly superior compatriot will work as a double edged sword in this case. The lead bully will not want to appear soft, and in turn lose his following. If a lackey finds fault in their leader, he will be likely to become the subject of his own tirades.
The best that any teacher or parent can hope to do when faced with the issue of bullying is to teach victims where to stop it in its tracks. This can result in its own problem, because teachers and parents can often become biased. If a bully is favored over a victim for any reason, the victim’s voice may be silenced by a feeling of helplessness. The only recourse for the victim will be to either fall inline as a lackey, or to try to seek other channels from which to plead his or her case.
Teachers and parents must become impartial judicators. If they cannot, a higher authority such as a principal or possibly even a police officer should be approached to end bullying at its infancy. The quicker that it can be nipped in the bud, the better the situation will be for all parties involved.
Teaching children how to respond to a situation where they feel that they are being abused, and how to approach the hierarchy of channels in a way that will make them listen is a primary goal for Kindie Kung Fu. The way it is represented in the text and class is simplicity in itself.
Below is an excerpt from Kindie Kung Fu:
- Do you hit your parents? No
- Do you hit your friends? No
- Do you hit a stranger? No
- Who do you tell if you have a problem? Tell a…teacher, parent, fireman, police officer
The simple repetition of this line of questioning is the first line of defense for bullying in schools.
