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Bullying not only affects the immediate well-being of students but also contributes to long-term challenges in school safety and climate if left unaddressed. By taking proactive steps in prevention, intervention, and ongoing support, educators can reduce harm, foster positive relationships, and build a school environment where every student feels safe, valued, and respected.
Since October is National Bullying Prevention Month, it is a great time to discuss bullying with students. The questions below can help begin these discussions.
- What does bullying look like to you?
- How do you think bullying makes someone feel?
- Why do you think people choose to bully?
- Who are adults that you trust to tell if you are being bullied?
- If you were being bullied, what would you want others to do to support you?
- What are some things we can do as a class or school to make everyone feel included?
- If you were being bullied, what would you want others to do to support you?
Bullying Prevention Methods
- Help students understand bullying – Discuss what bullying is and how to stand up to bullies safely. Make sure students know that bullying is unacceptable and how to get help.
- Promote open communication – Check in with students often, and listen to their needs. Provide times for students to bring up concerns.
- Encourage students to do what they love – Activities, interests, and clubs can boost a student’s confidence and help them make friends. This can help protect students from bullying behavior and isolation.
- Model how to treat others – Students may imitate how you treat others so treating your students and other adults with kindness and respect can have a significant impact.
Intervening in a Bullying Incident
Steps to Take
If you see an active bullying incident, follow these steps:
- Intervene immediately. Get another staff member to help if necessary.
- Separate the students involved.
- Make sure everyone is safe.
- Identify any immediate medical or mental health needs.
- Contact a nurse or counselor if necessary.
- Stay calm. Reassure any of the students involved.
- Model respectful behavior when you intervene.
Call an SRO or nurse immediately if:
- A weapon is involved.
- There are threats of serious physical injury.
- There are threats of hate-motivated violence, such as racism.
- There is serious bodily harm.
- There is sexual abuse.
- Anyone is accused of an illegal act, such as robbery.
Meeting with the Students
- Keep all the involved students separate.
- Get the story from several sources, including both students and adults.
- Listen without blaming.
- Don’t call the act “bullying” while you are trying to understand what happened.
Determining if an Incident is Bullying
Consider the following questions:
- What is the history between the students involved?
- Have there been past conflicts or incidents?
- What kind of relationship do the students have?
- Is the student worried it will happen again?
Common Mistakes
- Ignoring the incident
- Assuming the students will work it out on their own
- Immediately trying to find out the facts
- Forcing other students to say publicly what they saw
- Questioning the students involved in front of other students
- Talking to the students involved together
- Making the students involved apologize immediately
Supporting Bullied Students
| Do: | Don’t: |
| Assure the student that the bullying is not their fault. This reassurance helps reduce shame and self-blame. | Blame the student for being bullied. Even if they provoked the bullying, no one deserves to be bullied. |
| Encourage the student to walk away from the situation if it is safe to do so and to immediately report the incident to a trusted adult. | Tell the child to physically fight back against the kid who is bullying. This could get the student hurt, suspended, or expelled. |
| Work with other staff and families to resolve the situation and protect the bullied student. Continue with follow up support after bullying has been resolved. | Have the parents of the bullied student contact the parents of the bully. This could make matters worse. If needed, have school staff mediate. |
| Listen and focus on the student. Commit to making the bullying stop and consistently support the bullied student. | Tell the student to ignore the bullying. This may cause the bullying to continue or worsen. |
Questions to Ask the Student
- What can I do right now to support you?
- Who do you feel most comfortable talking to if this happens again?
- What’s the hardest part of this situation for you?
- What would make you feel safe at school?
Addressing the Bully’s Behavior
Step 1: Identify and address behavior.
- Clearly explain what behavior is the problem.
- Calmly tell the child that bullying will not be tolerated.
- Model respectful behavior when addressing the problem.
Step 2: Understand the why.
- Talk through possible reasons that the student bullied, such as trying to fit in, issues at home, or being bullied themselves.
- Keep the tone open and supportive.
Step 3: Utilize consequences to teach.
- Focus on learning over punishment.
- Possible ideas include having the student write an apology letter or do a good deed for the bullied student.
Step 4: Make amends.
- Guide the student in repairing the harm they caused.
- Reinforce how their actions affect others.
- Encourage empathy and accountability.
Step 5: Follow up with support.
- Praise acts of kindness.
- Discuss what it means to be a good friend.
- Maintain ongoing check-ins.