The Phenomenon of Bullying and Violence at School - Research Paper Example

? BULLYING IN SCHOOLS IN THE US An Action Research Project Presented to The Faculty of the Department of Educational Leadership Lamar In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Education in Education Administration (or Education Technology Leadership) By Student’s Name Month of Graduation Year of Graduation (Month Year) ABSTRACT This paper attempts to evaluate the phenomenon of bullying that prevails rampantly in the school settings across the United States. In order to attain this objective, it has examined a wide range of literature published on the topic. Besides, the research has obtained primary data by way of interviews and survey questionnaires that have been distributed among a sample population including students as well school staff and administers. The data so gathered has been analyzed to arrive at appropriate findings, based on which the researcher has endorsed the conclusions. In addition, the researcher has also offered certain recommendations that will offer better solutions for the management of the problem. Bullying in Schools in the US Section 1: Introduction Background: Humans have an inherent tendency for indulging in violent or non-violent acts to harass or otherwise disturb others and it reflects on children studying in schools also. The statutory definition of harassment or school bullying perceives it as a pattern of premeditated behavior that occurs in school premises, school buses for at the functions sponsored by schools and include but are not limited to “written, electronic, verbal or physical acts” that may cause “reasonable fear or harm” to the person or belonging of another student or impede with his or her academic pursuit or other activities (Bullying Definition 1). Evidence suggests that the issues arising out of bully-victim-bystander behavior as a dominant public health problem that hampers the ability of children to “develop in healthy ways” besides compromising their learning potential (Cohen & Freiberg 1). The phenomenon of school violence as a consequence of bullying has a long history in the US and statistics point to the fact that in 2010 alone, reported cases of about “828,000 nonfatal victimizations” occurred in schools that teach children between 12 – 18 years of age (Understanding School Violence 1). The concern heightens in the light of overwhelming evidence, which shows that “7%” of teachers in such schools have reported threats of injury or physical attack from students while in 2009 alone “20% students” reported the presence of gangs in schools (1). Apart from physical violence, other forms of bullying also occur in the school settings. These include verbal abuse, discriminatory behavior, threatening through electronic media including social networks etc which entail psychological anguish for the victims. These factors point to the prevalence of a grim situation in schools across the nation where children are not safe or free from risks of physical and mental harm. Problem Statement: Though deaths relating to school violence or bullying are found to be rare, there is no denial of the fact that this problem causes “nonfatal injuries” to many students besides entailing grave mental traumas to others (1). In addition, it can lead to a wide range of negative results for the victims and bystanders as well as the perpetrators, including substance abuse and suicide or mental problems such as “depression, anxiety” or fear psychosis (1). The situation prevalent in schools across the United States during the present day intimidates students and they feel “unsafe in schools” (Cohen & Freiberg 4). In order for students to attain the objectives of learning, it is imperative that they are provided with a safe and conducive environment where they can positively indulge in the learning process and enhance their creative skills. When the element of safety is absent, it can distract the students from the learning process and they will be remaining focused on the inherent risks that they are exposed to in the school settings. Such eventualities defeat the entire purpose of education and compromise the future of the generation that has to develop as responsible citizens of tomorrow. Significance of the Study: Providing proper education to the children, who are the promise of tomorrow, is a highly significant onus of the present generation. However, research evidence shows that due to the ever increasing incidence of bullying the safety of children in schools has been compromised, which negatively impacts the entire education process. Besides, it also comes to fore that most of the school based programs aimed at reducing bullying in schools are “based on commonsense ideas” rather than relevant theories supported by empirical evidence on the actual causative element behind the phenomenon or effective strategies that can minimize it (Farrington & Ttofi 9). Thus, it transpires that there is ample scope for further investigation on the problem of bullying in the schools as well as identifying effective measures that can contribute to curb the recurrence of this behavior in school settings. Besides, though this study finds that some of the strategies for the prevention of bullying, which are currently in place, are “effective” it raises questions about the specific elements that bring varied effects and also why different countries register different level of effectiveness (85). Thus, certain aspects uncertainty in the previous research results leave the scope for further research and, therefore, this research study is significant to determine these aspects of the previous studies. Definitions: Bullying: In the context of this study, bullying is defined as any physical, psychological or verbal act by a student, aimed at causing “fear, distress or harm” to another student to establish power or to oppress the powerless (7). Victim: A victim, in the context of this research paper, is a student to whom other students mete out any bullying behavior irrespective of whether it “involves aggression or violence” (8). Perpetrator: A perpetrator, for the purpose of this paper, is a student who deliberately inflicts any intimidation on another student through means of physical or mental harassment and causes “fear, distress or harm” to that student (7). Section 2: Literature Review Review: In the recent years, the phenomenon of school bullying in the US has taken an ugly turn and in many cases it has even been identified as the “precipitating factor” behind some instances of homicide and suicide (Dake, Price & Telljohann 173). Joseph A Dake, James H Price, and Susan K Johann, in their article titled “The Nature and Extent of Bullying in School,” find that bullying occurs in different settings and all nations across the world, and it negatively impacts the “lives of victims and bullies” (174). The impact affects their “physical, psychological, social well being” and may manifest in terms of developmental problems in these areas (174). In this context, it becomes relevant that schooling, as a critical stage in the process of growing up, has to play a crucial role in the overall development of children. As such, any impairment during this stage, as a consequence of any problems such as bullying, can have long term repercussions on the children apart from adversely influencing their academic careers. Similarly, in the modern day, schools confront a major challenge of having to cater to a diverse group of students hailing from different ethnic, cultural, racial and regional backgrounds. In addition, these institutions also have to provide the children with a safe learning environment to tap the benefits of “ever-expanding opportunities” by effectively overcoming any “intolerance and behaviors that demonstrate bias” (Bullying at Schools 2). However, evidence emerging from the report titled “Bullying at Schools,” published by the Department of Education, California, suggests that the problem of bullying at schools has become a major challenge that threatens not only the students but also staff members and it breeds “school violence across the nation” (3). It also refers to statistics published by the Journal of American Medical Association which places the prevalence of bullying at a staggering “30 percent of 15,686 public schools” (3). This tends to point to a grim situation, where school campuses are no more considered safe for children, which may defeat the very purpose of the learning settings where they develop their life skills and academic knowledge. The recent spite of bullying in schools has drawn a lot of public attention to this menace and reports suggest that the public sentiment has been violently shaken and, hence, there have been constant demands for immediate preventive measures. As a result, 20 states have enacted laws that mandate school authorities to facilitate learning environments and services that ensure the “prevention and cessation of bullying” (Seeley et al 2). It transpires that proper intervention by school authorities and appropriate initiatives will go a long way in mitigating the problems of the victims apart from helping in preventing the problem. Thus, in their article titled “Bullying in Schools: An Overview,” Ken Seeley, Martin L Tombari, Laurie J Bennett, and Jason B Dunkle suggest that in order to make the learning environment safe and congenial for the development of children, school authorities need to timely, regularly and actively intervene in the problems that students have and, in addition, “responsible adults” also need to “support and sustain” programs designed to counter such issues (4). Thus, through the concerted efforts of schools, parents and by creating awareness in both the victims and perpetrators of school bullying, the menace can be contained to a great extent. Summary: Bullying causes severe physical, mental and psychological problems to students that can lead to long term negative consequences that may hamper their development as well as interfere with their academic pursuits. This menace makes school an unsafe place for students apart from breeding discrimination and other unhealthy attitudes in them. Bullying is destructive not just for the victims, but in the long run, it will prove to be harmful for the offenders as well. Suffering the consequences of bullying as well as inflicting pain on others through bullying causes problems for both the parties and it is these childhood experiences of schooling that basically shapes their future. Thus, bullying is a serious issue that needs to be dealt with, in order to provide the children with an environment where they can progress rather than get traumatized. Besides, in certain cases it also affects the staff members and thus tarnishes the overall image of the institution. The escalating incidence of bullying and the resultant school violence has become a matter of public concern in the country, which calls for urgent remedial measures. In the recent days, school authorities and government agencies as well as parents are making concerted efforts to encounter this problem so as to facilitate a congenial environment for students to pursue their academic interests. In the end, it is the present day school-goers that will, in the near future, grow up to be leaders of the world, therefore, it becomes important that they have a happy fun-filled as well as good learning atmosphere in the educational institutions they attend. Section 3: Research Design Subjects/Participants: 20 – 30 students and 10 – 15 school staff/administrators will participate in surveys or will be interviewed for the purpose of this study. Procedures: The researcher will conduct interviews with at least 10 students and 5 staff members or administrators. In addition, questionnaires will be distributed to the remaining students and staff members/administrators. The interviews will be done at the location of the students or officials and the questionnaires for the survey will be sent through electronic means to the participants. They will be initially contacted through telephone, briefed and only in cases where they agree to respond, the questionnaires will emailed. Data Collection: Primary data collection will be done through interviews and distributing questionnaires as stated above. In addition, the data obtained through the literature review will also be considered for the purpose of the research. Both quantitative data as well as qualitative data will be obtained and evaluated during the study. Section 4: Findings Discussion of Findings: The review of literature shows that bullying is a major concern in most of the schools in the US and it creates problems for the children and usually results in hampering their learning in the schools. In many cases, even staff members are intimidated by bullying students and there is also the presence of gangs in schools. Thus, the school environment has become unsafe for the children who are less powerful. Students also use bullying for discrimination, social ostracizing and demonstration of power or to oppress weaker students. The government has implemented a lot of measures to discourage and reduce bullying in school settings, in collaboration with the school authorities. However, while most of the measures are found successful, some of them are not effective and require either review or modification. On the other hand, the primary data also confirms of the above findings and, in addition, the students have categorically stated that fear perception about the negative consequences, on most occasions, intimidate from reporting bullying of minor nature. Similarly, most of them also agreed to heightened vulnerability of female student population than male students to the threat of being bullied. Some students have admitted to the fact of relying on substance abuse for coping with the pressure, which has adversely affected their academic performance. While some of the students feel that the preventive measures are effective and being followed by the school authorities, others feel that more stringent policies must be implemented to discourage the bullies and to ensure the safety of school campuses. Representatives of the schools were unanimous on their claim that policies are effective and being implemented. Only a very small percentage of the staff reported intimidation by bullies directed at them but most acknowledged the presence of gangs in schools. Summary: Overall, the evidence emerging from literature review as well as interview and survey results do confirm the rampant prevalence of bullying in school settings. In certain cases, the phenomenon of bullying has stretched over to staff members also. It can be seen that issues related to bullying are become increasingly occurring in the present scenario.While some policies are effective, others do not have the intended effects and modifications seem warranted. It transpires that better security and reporting systems are necessary for combating the problem and ensuring the provision of a safe environment in schools for students to pursue their learning. Similarly, stringent policies that consider the advent in technology need to be implemented to address the issues of students in an effective manner. However, despite the stringent policies that are already present, the fact remains that when a case of bullying is reported the victim is necessarily exposed with the offender. This should not be the case as it creates opportunities for the offender to hate as well as evolve strong feelings of anger or resentment against the victims who have complained them. Therefore, in order to be effective, when a student makes a complaint of victimisation, the school authorities should ensure that his or her identity is not revealed when dealing with the particular bully. Thus, with an integrated effort from the officials of educational institutions as well as the students themselves, the issues related with bullying can be duly overcome. Section 5: Conclusions and Recommendations Conclusions: The problem of bullying in schools has become a menacingly serious problem that has compromised the safety of students and in most cases the issue hampers their learning. It comes as a surprise that even though man has developed significantly in terms of technological advancements and ventures, basically his character seems to be demeaning. There may be various reasons behind bullying, some children bully other children because they are going through some traumatic experiences themselves, whereas some others may merely do it for fun. However, whatever the reasons maybe, none of them deem bullying correct or the right behavior, simply due to the basic concept that it is not right to inflict pain upon another person, especially children who are innocent. Despite various standards implemented against bullies and the whole concept of bullying, the fact remains that it is still present in some degree in every educational institution and it also seems to be increasing. Therefore, the issue needs immediate attention from the government, school authorities and parents and concerted efforts are called for. There is also an urgent need to review the existing policies and incorporate necessary modifications there in to make it compatible to meet the current magnitude of the issue and effectively encounter it. Reflection: During the process of the study, I have personally felt that the problem needs to be dealt with deserving seriousness by the government and school authorities. It has also come to fore that many cases still remain unreported, thereby undermining its actual magnitude. Similarly, I personally feel that an urgent review of the existing policies is called for in order to bridge the gaps with reference to the present situation. Recommendations: Existing policies need to be reviewed, revised and modified to meet the demands of the present day, especially in terms of the technological advances. As mentioned earlier, there have been more bullying in the case of boys rather than girls, but at the same time, girls are equally likely to engage in verbal fights if not physical fights. However, instances where girls do get bullied by boys, it exceeds certain levels, as girls may not necessarily have as strong minds as boys do and they are likely to get more hurt. Thus, standards should be implemented that will safeguard the interests of males, but especially so that of females as they are more vulnerable. Action research plans are basically plans that formulate actions which need to be taken after a research has been carried out. After an extensive research on bullying in schools in the US, through available literature, it becomes clear that in addition to existing policies being reviewed or modified, there needs to be implementation of new policies too. Firstly, CCTV cameras can be installed at places such as in the class rooms, certain spots on the corridor etc. When the children are aware of the fact that they are being monitored they will not think of bullying the other to a large extent. Another recommendation is that the officials need to keep a really strict system of reporting, that is, if one teacher comes to know of a bullying case and he or she is unable to resolve it, they need to communicate the problem to higher authority. Even if such problems are solved, they should still report it to the next person in the hierarchy so that authorities know about all the things going around in the school. These measures should be taken so as to reduce as well as prevent bullying. In case bullying has already taken place, what officials can do is encourage students to communicate the same with them. It is seen that the victims are in constant fear of harassment and being bullied again if they do complain in the first place. This can be avoided by keeping such issues confidential between the student and the official and not letting the offender know about this. Thus, if students are promised confidentiality, they will not fear further victimization and will report of any problems they face. Thus, when these measures are taken, bullying will considerably decrease, be it at a gradual rate or not, and overtime it can be eradicated completely. Concluding Remarks: The problem and its implications on the career and life of the students warrant further research to ascertain specific aspects of the issue and evolve appropriate strategies that will help in addressing its whole perspective. Similarly, there also needs to be concerted efforts from the government, school authorities, community as well as parents to check the problem in a more effective manner. Works Cited Bullying at Schools. California Department of Education, 2003. Web. 12 Nov 2013. < HYPERLINK "http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/se/documents/bullyingatschool.pdf" http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/se/documents/bullyingatschool.pdf> Bullying Definitions in State Anti-Bullying Statutes. National School Boards Association, 2012. Web. 30 Nov 2013 < HYPERLINK "http://www.nsba.org/SchoolLaw/Issues/Safety/Definitions.pdf" http://www.nsba.org/SchoolLaw/Issues/Safety/Definitions.pdf> Cohen, Jonathan & Freiberg, Jo Ann. School Climate and Bullying Prevention. National School Climate Center, 2013. Dake, Joseph A., Price, James, H., & Telljohann, Susan K. “The Nature and Extent of Bullying at School.” Journal of School Health. Vol.73 (5): pp.173-180. Web. 12 Nov 2013. < HYPERLINK "http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwche/The%20Nature%20and%20Extent%20of%20Bullying%20at%20School.pdf" http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwche/The%20Nature%20and%20Extent%20of%20Bullying%20at%20School.pdf> Farrington, David P & Ttofi, Maria M. School-Based Programs to Reduce Bullying and Victimization. US Department of Justice, 2009. Web. 30 Nov 2013. < HYPERLINK "https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/229377.pdf" https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/229377.pdf> Seeley, Ken, Tombari, Martin L., Bennett, Laurie, J., and Dunkle, Jason, B. “Bullying in Schools: An Overview.” Juvenile Justice Bulletin, December 2011. US Department of Justice. Web. 12 Nov 2013. < HYPERLINK "http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/234205.pdf" http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/234205.pdf> Understanding School Violence: Fact Sheet. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2012. Web. 30 Nov 2013. < HYPERLINK "http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/schoolviolence_factsheet-a.pdf" http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/schoolviolence_factsheet-a.pdf> Annexure-I Questions for Interviewees: STUDENTS: Since how long have you been studying in this school: How many times have you been bullied by others? Never/01-05 times/06-10 times/Over 10 times Do you engage in bullying others? No/Occasionally/Often/Always When you are bullied, do you report it to your school? Never/Occasionally/Often/Always Do you report to your parents or other elders? Never/Occasionally/Often/Always Do you report to any nonprofit organizations such as Child Rights Commission? Never/Occasionally/Often/Always What forms of bullying you usually encounter/engage in? Teasing/Physical Abusing/Sexual Harassment/Cyber Bullying Where does the bullying usually occur? Class Rooms/Indoor Playgrounds/Outdoor Playgrounds/Swimming Pool/ Dormitory/ Locker Rooms/Others (Specify): What measures, in your opinion, will be most effective to reduce/eliminate the problem? Annexure-II Questions for Interviewees: PRINCIPALS/FACULTIES/ADMINSTRATORS: Since how long have you been working in this position? On an average, many cases of bullying are reported in a week? None/01-05 cases/06-10 cases/Over 10 cases Which gender engages in bullying mostly? Male/Female When a bullying is reported what action do you take? Never/Occasionally/Often/Always Do you report instances of bullying to the police or other law and order systems? Never/Occasionally/Often/Always Do you report it to any nonprofit organizations such as Child Rights Commission? Never/Occasionally/Often/Always What forms of bullying are usually reported? Teasing/Physical Abusing/Sexual Harassment/Cyber Bullying Where does the reported bullying usually occur? Class Rooms/Indoor Playgrounds/Outdoor Playgrounds/Swimming Pool/ Dormitory/ Locker Rooms/Others (Specify): Do you feel some cases of bullying are not reported and what reasons you attribute to this trend as well as how do you encourage students to report? What measures, in your opinion, will be most effective to reduce/eliminate the problem? Annexure-III Survey Questionnaire: STUDENTS: Your gender: Male/Female/Transgender The grade/school you study in: Since how long have you been studying in this school? How many times have you been bullied by others? Never/01-05 times/06-10 times/Over 10 times Do you engage in bullying others? No/Occasionally/Often/Always When you are bullied, do you report it to your school? Never/Occasionally/Often/Always Do you report to your parents or other elders? Never/Occasionally/Often/Always Do you report to any nonprofit organizations such as Child Rights Commission? Never/Occasionally/Often/Always What forms of bullying you usually encounter/engage in? Teasing/Physical Abusing/Sexual Harassment/Cyber Bullying Where does the bullying usually occur? Class Rooms/Indoor Playgrounds/Outdoor Playgrounds/Swimming Pool/ Dormitory/ Locker Rooms/Others (Specify): What measures, in your opinion, will be most effective in eliminating or at least reducing the problem? Annexure-IV Survey Questionnaire: PRINCIPALS/FACULTIES/ADMINSTRATORS: Since how long have you been working in this position? On an average, many cases of bullying are reported in a week? None/01-05 cases/06-10 cases/Over 10 cases Which gender engages in bullying mostly? Male/Female When a bullying is reported what action do you take? Never/Occasionally/Often/Always Do you report instances of bullying to the police or other law and order systems? Never/Occasionally/Often/Always Do you report it to any nonprofit organizations such as Child Rights Commission? Never/Occasionally/Often/Always What forms of bullying are usually reported? Teasing/Physical Abusing/Sexual Harassment/Cyber Bullying Where does the reported bullying usually occur? Class Rooms/Indoor Playgrounds/Outdoor Playgrounds/Swimming Pool/ Dormitory/ Locker Rooms/Others (Specify): Do you feel some cases of bullying are not reported and what reasons you attribute to this trend as well as how do you encourage students to report? Does the school have a system of reporting and dealing with bullying? What measures, in your opinion, will be most effective to reduce/eliminate the problem? 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