Systems, Change And Childhood Case Study
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Systems, Change and Childhood – Section of Essay Paul Downes Section A. It is very important in the primary school classroom that bullying is dealt with in the correct way, and the class teacher can have a major influence in preventing bullying within a class group and throughout the school. In this case, there are ways the situation between Ella and Jane can be improved, both at a (a) whole class level, and (b) including particular interventions regarding Ella and Jane. Preventing bullying is a child protection and welfare issue (Downes & Cefai, 2016), and improvements have to be made to these situations because the consequences of bullying can be severe and detrimental to the lives of all children involved in bullying, both …show more content…
Similar situation to Ella’s may be commonplace in schools around Ireland, as we commonly hear of the quiet, smart child, who may have different interests to her peers, who may be seen as the ‘nerd’, being bullied. Whole-class approaches can be seen as approaches that aim to raise awareness about the topic of bullying, and to provide arenas so that pupils and the school staff begin to understand the implications and consequences of bullying (Lee, 2004). We as teachers also need to consider and understand the situation of the child who is engaged in bullying, rather than just condemning them for the wrong they do. Whereas they may come across as confident in school, this could be the opposite at home, and their aggression could simply be a projection of them being mistreated or neglected at home. They could merely be reliving deep seated trauma from their own life, that needs the teacher’s support to go beyond school boundaries (Downes, 2009). In order to raise awareness about the issue of bullying, the teacher could organise for a whole-school talk to be carried out by an expert in bullying and the psychology associated with bullying. However, such talks may not be stimulating for the children and might not resonate with them as much as other approaches would. This ‘lecturing’ may not prove useful, as teacher-student interaction is considered important …show more content…
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Cefai, C. (2016). How to tackle bullying and prevent school violence in Europe: Strategies for inclusive and safe schools.
Analytical Report for European Commission Network of Experts on the Social Aspects of Education. -
Lyons,
C. et al. (2007).
Models of Intervention for Challenging Behaviour.
In Downes, P. & Gilligan, A-L (eds.), Beyond Educational Disadvantage. Dublin:
IPA -
Murphy,
A. (2007). Peer Mediation: the Power and Importance of Children’s Voices -
Byrne, M. (2007). Health for all.
In Downes, P. & Gilligan, A-L (eds.), Beyond Educational Disadvantage. Dublin:
IPA -
Erikson EH. Childhood and society. Repr. ed. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin
Books; 1972. -
Holtham, J. (2009). Taking Restorative Justice to Schools: A Doorway to Discipline.
Colorado Springs, CO: Homestead Press. -
Lacey, A., & Cornell, D. (2011, August). The impact of bullying climate on schoolwide academic performance. Poster presented at the 119th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC
Luke Smith
Systems, Change and Childhood – Section of Essay Paul Downes Section A. It is very important in the primary school classroom that bullying is dealt with in the correct way, and the class teacher can have a major influence in preventing bullying within a class group and throughout the school. In this case, there are ways the situation between Ella and Jane can be improved, both at a (a) whole class level, and (b) including particular interventions regarding Ella and Jane. Preventing bullying is a child protection and welfare issue (Downes & Cefai, 2016), and improvements have to be made to these situations because the consequences of bullying can be severe and detrimental to the lives of all children involved in bullying, both …show more content…
Similar situation to Ella’s may be commonplace in schools around Ireland, as we commonly hear of the quiet, smart child, who may have different interests to her peers, who may be seen as the ‘nerd’, being bullied. Whole-class approaches can be seen as approaches that aim to raise awareness about the topic of bullying, and to provide arenas so that pupils and the school staff begin to understand the implications and consequences of bullying (Lee, 2004). We as teachers also need to consider and understand the situation of the child who is engaged in bullying, rather than just condemning them for the wrong they do. Whereas they may come across as confident in school, this could be the opposite at home, and their aggression could simply be a projection of them being mistreated or neglected at home. They could merely be reliving deep seated trauma from their own life, that needs the teacher’s support to go beyond school boundaries (Downes, 2009). In order to raise awareness about the issue of bullying, the teacher could organise for a whole-school talk to be carried out by an expert in bullying and the psychology associated with bullying. However, such talks may not be stimulating for the children and might not resonate with them as much as other approaches would. This ‘lecturing’ may not prove useful, as teacher-student interaction is considered important …show more content…
&
Cefai, C. (2016). How to tackle bullying and prevent school violence in Europe: Strategies for inclusive and safe schools.
Analytical Report for European Commission Network of Experts on the Social Aspects of Education. -
Lyons,
C. et al. (2007).
Models of Intervention for Challenging Behaviour.
In Downes, P. & Gilligan, A-L (eds.), Beyond Educational Disadvantage. Dublin:
IPA -
Murphy,
A. (2007). Peer Mediation: the Power and Importance of Children’s Voices -
Byrne, M. (2007). Health for all.
In Downes, P. & Gilligan, A-L (eds.), Beyond Educational Disadvantage. Dublin:
IPA -
Erikson EH. Childhood and society. Repr. ed. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin
Books; 1972. -
Holtham, J. (2009). Taking Restorative Justice to Schools: A Doorway to Discipline.
Colorado Springs, CO: Homestead Press. -
Lacey, A., & Cornell, D. (2011, August). The impact of bullying climate on schoolwide academic performance. Poster presented at the 119th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC
Luke Smith