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Shelton Mwanyisa
Emerging Issues in Education
(Continued from last week)
Parental involvement
When schools are dealing with issues of bullying, there is need to look at the children’s social background.
Communication between the school and the home should not wait until something dreadful has been committed by the student.
Where the family is not quite intact, moral guidance may be inadequate, which will then manifest through bullying.
Children who were deprived of motherly love during their early years could develop anti-social personality disorders.
There is a tendency of such children to compensate their shortcomings by inflicting pain on others.
In the same vein, dysfunctional families can contribute to the development of bullying behaviours in children.
The interactions between the family members in a dysfunctional family are based on those with power imposing themselves on those without power.
More so it has been observed that children who are abused at home are at a higher risk of bullying others in schools.
Controlling media
Boxing and wrestling glorifies bullies in the name of entertainment.
It is important to restrict the exposure of children to violent movies.
The children who watch violence on television may learn both physical and verbal bullying.
Parents can control the time and frequency of watching television programmes.
Social learning theorists attribute bullying to both modelling and operant conditioning.
Children can learn aggressive behaviours by imitating personalities who behave in this way.
Nurturing good friendships
Schools can involve learners in sport so that they use their energy towards positive behaviour lifestyles.
Bullying can also be a response to peer pressure within the school.
Once initiated, bullying acts are likely to be maintained within the school environment.
The peer group will often bully another group or individuals simply to have fun.
It is also important to note that bullying by an individual is often conducted with the support of a group where the bully is glorified and seen as a hero.
Involvement of the police
Dealing with bullying requires a multi-sectoral approach. It is unfortunate that the police are usually considered when an offence or crime has been committed.
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, Zimbabwe Republic Police and schools can work together to curb the high cases of bullying.
Schools should invite the police to lecture the learners on the consequences of aggressive behaviour.
If those who bully others are reprimanded for unbecoming behaviour and all other pupils observe the perpetrators being punished, it is likely that the bullying cases will not be repeated.
School trips to prisons will also enlighten the students of the reality of prison life and may deter them from aggressive behaviour.
The school is in a position to initiate collaboration with both parents and local community, which is important for wide reaching impact of the prevention strategies.
It is therefore important to promote good relationships within and between peers, schools and communities.
Even though most bullying occurs at school, its prevention should focus on the entire community.
Everyone has an important role to play.
Next week we explore the problem of drug abuse.
I rest my case!
Online Reporter