Different Forms of Bullying - Essay Example

The hopeful sign is that there has been increased awareness about the measures to checkmate bullying with those concerned with this issue, parents, teachers and guardians of the society.

Vile bullying is tantamount to criminal behaviour. In educational institutions, it is practised by the bullies as if it is part of their curriculum. Some of the reasons for bullying are frustration, absence of role model, abuse and neglect at home, undue influence of peers and conduct disorder etc. The seed for the trait of bullying is sown at home. Children have impressionable minds, and when parents do not spare enough time for them to meet their genuine needs, they rebel internally and when suppressed over a long period, it results in aggression. A youth fights to establish his own identity failing which he associates with like-minded friends and plans violent acts to give vent to his suppressed desires and goals. The materialistic civilization and the internet revolution have contributed their share to making the youth take to the path of negativities and violence. Youth comes to believe that bullying is the best and immediate solution for all his problems.

A bully, when called to account, will go to the typical denial mode immediately. This is the common reaction. The bully thinks that offence is the best form of defence. Bullies are excellent manipulators and are experts in passing on the responsibility. In schools and colleges, tackling bullying has to be an important part of the school discipline. Students should have a clear understanding at the time of admission that aggression, bullying and violence are not acceptable. Written communication needs to be sent to the guardians and parents mentioning their responsibility on this count and with clear indications about the anti-bullying policy of the institution. The tolerance limit for this negative tendency should be zero and the one who still rebels must find accommodation in reformatory schools, if not outright rustication. The punishment meted out needs to be a stern warning to other intending bullies that not only their educational career, but their future is in jeopardy if they violate rules. At the same time, all possible counselling methods need to be employed to tame a bully and guidance provided to him as to how to deal with aggression. The bully should be told firmly about the benefits of interaction in a responsible and respectable manner with fellow students, juniors and the teaching faculty. Physical punishment is inappropriate as it will not deliver a permanent solution to heal the injured psyche of the affected individual. The final solution to tackling bullying is the collective responsibility of the senior students, teachers, parents and the moral guardians of the society like preachers and spiritual masters.

Meekness is not a virtue in all circumstances. Even the most disciplined student needs to stand up to the bullies to check them for further adventures. The wise saying goes, “Meet good with good and evil with justice.” Most of the bullies are internally cowards. David Derbyshire writes about two interesting findings by the researchers, “Children who returned hostility with hostility appeared to be the most mature, the researchers found. Boys who stood up to bullies and schoolyard enemies were judged more socially competent by their teachers. Girls who did the same were more popular and more admired by teachers and peers”. Here is the important lesson for challenging bullying.

Let me quote the wise saying, “Do not strike; if you strike, strike hard and see that there is no need to strike again.” This is the weapon one has to use against the bullies. It is difficult to conquer the hearts of bullies by goody-goody talks and by not sending appropriate messages in the mode they understand, and controlled violence is one of them. Joelle, a practical parent writes, “We are sensitized to declaring behaviour bullying. We all feel compelled to protect our children from physical, emotional and electronic bullying. And we all know that protracted bullying can lead to terrible consequences”. So at times, the offence is the best form of defence. I have told my two adolescent children, “Do not ever tell me so and so bullied me; tell me how you checkmated him and do it resolutely, without any fear of imaginary consequences. Never accept humiliation. A bully, when in deep trouble on account of his bad actions, has no friends to defend him.”

Bullying needs to be challenged with a relentless campaign and the campaign managers are parents, senior students, teachers, religious preachers, philanthropists, the print and the electronic media, movie idols and other role models. A great social responsibility is ahead of these all. Every bully and bully-in-the-making must know the consequences of violating the rule and punishment should be meted out for the first offence so that others learn a lesson that causing intentional and pre-planned pain to others will not be overlooked or condoned. Bad behaviour can be overlooked and reformed, but not bullying.