Teachers are the first line of defense when it comes to bullying. They are responsible for making students feel safe, respected, and cared for in their classrooms. Teachers should try to resolve the problem first. Brining parents and the principal into the situation should be a last resort. One instance in which I saw bullying first hand in my classroom was when a student told me another male student forced him to copy one month’s worth of class notes. When I found out, I was naturally upset at the bullier and sad for this student who I had taught since the 7^th grade who was being bullied (he was now  an 8^th grade student.) The first thing I did was tell the student that he had nothing to worry about and that the other student would never bully him again. Next I found the bullier and in a respectful tone I asked him why he had asked the student to do that. He said he didn’t know. I then told the student that if he ever bullied the other student again that I would personally see to it that his parents had a conference with me, the student and the principal. The student understood me loud and clear and did not become resentful towards me. I respected the bullier but made myself clear.

Parents must ultimately get involved if the teacher can’t resolve the problem. Parents must contact the teacher and principal of the school at the first sign of persistent bullying. Principals wield an enormous amount of respect from students and if the principal gets involved usually the matter will be resolved on the spot. Parents should request from the principal a conference with the parents of the child who is bullying your child.

Bullying can have a severe impact on children’s performance at school. It causes many students to become anxious and not focus on their work. If we as parents and teachers see the signs early enough in our children and take the appropriate steps to end it students won’t have to be through the ordeal of being bullied.


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