if you were a school principal, what would you do to reduce bullying in your school?
452419
In-school suspension is the best discipline.  If students are suspended there is no one at home who can work with them and find a reason for their behavior.  The suspended student has too much fun being on his/her own.\n\nThose who bully have serious issues that often cannot be corrected by punishment.  One needs to find the cause and see if it can be corrected.
988917
This is a much more difficult question than the posters are making it out to be.  Sure, it sounds logical to just go to the teacher, the other kids parents, the principal, etc., but the answer is not always this easy.\n\nYou have to realize, if you do this, you are putting your child at a greater risk for continued harassment, additional harassment and possibly even physical retaliation, which is much more likely than parents would like to believe.  The worst thing in the world, especially for a boy, is to be labelled a "nark."  His life will go from bad to worse.  Kids will tease him about it; His classmates won't trust him; Kids will be unwilling to get close to him, etc.  \n\nIt is possible that school officials could just keep a closer eye on it and bust the bully without the bully ever knowing that he had been "ratted" out.  That would be the best case scenario.  \n\nIf you call the bully's parents, 1 of 4 things can happen and 3 of them are not good and the good one is highly unlikely.  You have to realize that, just like you, the bully's parents first reaction is to stick up for their child.\n\n#1 The bully's parents could laugh you off\n#2 The bully's parents could get real defensive and turn against you and your child\n#3 The bully's parents could side with you, tell their kid about the conversation and then the bully would punish your child for your actions\n#4 The bully could get in so much trouble that he straightens out and doesnt tell anyone about it (how likely do you think that is?)\n\nThe worst thing you can do is encourage your child to beat up the bully.  Violence is never the answer.  How effective and realistic is comebacks, avoidance, etc.?  I guess it depends on the situation.  I don't know that it will work though.\n\nWhere is the bullying taking place?  What is the relationship between the kid and the bully?  What does the kid say is happening?  Does the kid give you details?  Details are very important, because there could be a logical solution to the issue.\n\nFinally, the advice you are looking for...older children...say 7th grade and up, (my experience is with the fellas so I come from that angle), are striving to be viewed as adults.  The guys want to take on a mans role; Do the right thing; Help people; PROTECT PEOPLE.  (I realize not all 7th and up guys are like this, but you can use your judgement to find the good ones)  Get a fella that is a little older that you have some sort of relationship with, whether it be a coaches kid, family friend, etc.  Tell him that your son is having an issue and it would be a real help if you could, "look after him, show him the ropes, help him along with the fellas, make sure he gets along alright."  Hopefully, the younger kid looks up to this dude (younger guys usually do, pretty much, no matter what), tell the older kid, "my son really looks up to you.  It would mean alot to him, but (and this is very important) it would mean just as much to me.  You are a good kid.  You are a good role model for him."  This way you are empowering a young man. He will take ownership in the situation.  He will watch out for your kid, and the bully will want nothing to do with an older kid, matter of fact, he will probably think he is down right cool and want to be his friend instead of foe.
1014742
I can tell by your rambling letter that you really could use someones help and support.  Why Montel?  How about getting an appointment with one of the school administrators. I would think children going through the stress of having one or two of their parents in harms way is stressful enough.  The kids then have to be subjected to bullying. \n\nDon't just storm into anyones office with all your complaints.  I understand your frustration.  Instead, write down in short sentences the facts.  For example, on such a date little Mary was kicked on the bus.  Or, little Amy had her lunch stolen.  Explain their fears of school  and how long this torture has been going on.  Wait a week if you do not hear anything.  Go over that persons head.  Make sure you know who and when you spoke to these people.\n\nIf you don't get results, I hate to recommend this, but maybe a big antiwar news show such as MSNBC or CNN may want to hear your story.  Good luck
27163
its just me, but you would be hard pressed to find any school period that does not have bullying.  bullying takes on many forms and is not as obvious as punching and name calling.  just find the school that fits the needs of your student and has an excellent academic and extracurricular structure.  everything else can be taken care of as it happens.
85205
Hmmmm .... be careful about some of the advice yu have been given here.  Some of it is good ... do be assertive, but your friend is probably not strong enough to fight the bully physically ... bullies don't pick on kids who are stronger than them.  Bullies don't go away.  It is true that bullies are cowards, and tend to back down when people stand up to them, but bullies also seek revenge.  I don't know how old you and your friend are, but this problem needs to be dealt with.  Unless bullies are stopped, they tend to get worse and worse, not better.  If this is happening at school, most schools have someone you can go to so that some adult will know about what's happening and can begin to stop it - a guidnace counselor, a teacher youtrust, the principal, someone.  Can your friend go to his parents and tell them?  If the bully has actually attacked your friend, go to the police.  The bully can be charged.  This is not a laughing matter.  No matter what the bully has said about not telling anyone, TELL.  Here are some well researched tips on dealing with bullying:\n1.  If you are bullied, TELL.  Telling is not being weak or being a coward or tattling.  It is helping to protect everyhone from that bully.\n2.  Tell someone you trust - teacher, counselor, parent, some other adult.  You CANNOT handle this yourself. \n3.  Do not retaliate or get angry.  This could make things worse.\n4.  Respond evenly and firmly or say nothing and walk away.\n5.  develop good strong friendships and support each other.  Bullies tend to pick on kids that they think don't have many friends or kids thye think others won't hlep.\n6.  Act confident.\n7.  Try to stay away from places the bully will be if that is possible.  For example, take a different route to school.\n8.  Avoid unsupervised areas of the school.\n9.  Try not to bring expensive items to school that might attract the bully's attention and that he might try to take or break.\n10.  To gain confidence and feel stronger and feel that youcan take care of yourself, enrol in a self-defnece program if one is available, or a martial arts program or something like that.  Self defence programs teach you some very good skills, very quickly.\n11.  Join a group, such as Scouts, a cadet program, or something like that, so that you have a special group of friends.  \n\nGo to the website www.bullying.co.uk/ which has lots of information for parents and for kids about bullying and about some things you can do.  I think this website might really help you figure out some good positivbe things you can do to deal with this.\n\nI hope this helps you.  Good luck with sorting this out.  Don't give up.  There is help out there. Take care.
584462
Definitely do tell people about it! My daughter was bullied at school, and hated life until she was moved. Talk to the school, BUT if they do nothing, then go right to the state teaching board (not 100% sure how things work in the US) but if the school does nothing, go right over their heads. My daughter had proof that this other student had stolen her wallet, yet the school didn't want to know about it, or the many other ocassions.
1035562
I did! These are people too. I absolutely feel that they need to be taught how to be effective socially as well as educationally. I had a student in my first year teaching. He was a fourth grader who everyone warned me about. I was told he got in to fights everyday and I should really watch out for him. Well, I handled him differently than any teacher before me. I asked him what helped him to diffuse? I asked him if he could tell when he was starting to get angry, before he lost his temper. Together we came up with a plan that allowed him to deal with his own temper his own way. Lo and behold he became a straight A student who only got into two fights the whole year!\nWe also did peer counseling in the later elementary grades. Kids brought each other to a panel of their peers to try to talk out their problems. It was a very popular way for the students to make sure their problems were heard and understood. As students enter 4th and 5th grade social problems become a bigger issue and learning to deal with them without telling a teacher was essential. Nobody wants to be a tattletale but they also don't want to get picked on. I watched these kids learn respect and responsibility from peer counseling, it was very exciting!
20173
I would contact your local police station often times police departments have a program in place where they travel from school to school and talk about safety, not to mention bullying. I would also see if my local or reference library has a video. Also participating in role plays with kids demonstrating the do's and dont's is highly effective since it is hands on.
991795
Children are children so bullying will occur everywhere.  I have a feeling it might seem less due to being better dealt with in private schools as they tend to have smaller classes and more staff to  keep an eye out for the problems.  Also, I could see that bullying could be worse in boarding schools, most of which are private, as the children are living together 24/7 during the term time - which gives more opportunity for bullying and creates a more intense environment with few breaks from your peirs.  I went to an all girls boarding school myself and it can get pretty awful.  None of this is based on exact research, just my opinion, but I hope you find it useful/of interest.
286297
if this really bothers u, transfer her to the other school.  u cant really blame the principal for bullies but if she didnt do anything about it then u can report her to the department fo education.  but u can always try to talking to her again.
331938
If you're being bullied, you need to talk to your parents or teachers and get it stopped. You shouldn't have to go through that.
282349
I would say if the teacher is not willing to take responsibility then go to the principal. There are laws against bullying and the school is responsible for the safety of the kids while in the learning environment.\n\nApproach the teacher 1st. Document everything including the meeting (in form of emails/meeting minutes etc) and take a witness with you as a double back-up. If that fails, have a meeting with the principal. Document that too. In the worst case scenario you can always take them to court.\n\nAlso try and talk to your child and get details about the bullying. Generally bullies pick on those they consider weaker. So if your child shows that there is support or can stand up to them they might stop harrassing her.
216017
obviosly being a bully would be worse, whats wrong with praying? The more we pray the better our schools will be and there will be less bullies.
545070
by talking to your principal. he can fire them.
623925
I wish we could do something.  The only thing I can think of is to get rid of W and quit being bullies in the Mid East.  I wish we had a way of organizing something nationally to protest this crap.
433506
your principal needs to get a sense of humor
145582
Talk to your parents and principals Try to tranfer out if you can .I would go to the principal and tell him your being verbally abused and what's happening in the class He has to investage .When this happened to my son I went to the princapal and then to the school board The teacher was sent to anger mangement.