Workplace Bullying

Proposed Title:

An Overview of Bullying: Early Manifestation, Identification, Intervention and Implementation Strategies

Survey of Related Literature:

Bullying is now the number one non-academic issue that most educators face, and is one of the top concerns of many parents. Defined as an act of repeated aggressive behavior in order to intentionally hurt another person either emotionally, verbally, or physically, bullying is characterized by an individual behaving in a certain way to gain power over another person. Bullies may behave this way out of jealousy or because they themselves are bullied. When they leave school, they will most likely carry on their bullying in the workplace. ( Tempo, News In A Flash, Posted by Online on Jan 18th, 2012)

New bullying statistics released in 2010 are showing that bullying is still a problem among children and teens, but is taking on a different approach with cyberbullying becoming more and more rampant in school and after school among teens and children. Social networking has provided an entirely new environment for bullying to take place. *According to bullying statistics 2010, there are about 2.7 million students being bullied each year by about 2.1 students taking on the role of the bully.

How often does bullying happen?

Based on statistics of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, “close to half of all children will experience school bullying at some point while they are at primary or secondary school.” At least 10 percent of children are bullied regularly.

Online GMA News in 2011 reported that Plan Philippines conducted an initial baseline study on violence against children (VAC) in public schools entitled “Toward a Child-Friendly Education Environment.” The subjects included 2,442 children from 58 public schools in Masbate, Northern Samar and the Camotes Islands in Cebu; as well as parents and other community representatives, school personnel and guidance counselors. This study showed the following:

1. At least five out of 10 children in Grades 1-3, seven out of 10 in Grades 4-6 and six out of 10 in high school have experienced some kind of violence in school.

2. Verbal abuse is the most prevalent form of violence experienced by children in all school levels. This includes being ridiculed and teased, being shouted at and being cursed or spoken to with harsh words.

3. Children’s peers, more than the adults, are the perpetrators of violence in schools.

4. Male children are more likely to experience physical violence than females.

5. Physical and verbal forms of violence are accepted by the children as part of discipline and seen as appropriate when inflicted within certain parameters.

6. Children generally prefer a more positive form of discipline such as being talked to and corrected or guided/counseled in response to offenses or violations made in school.

7. Experiences of violence usually result in low self-esteem, fear, anger and helplessness among children.

8. Family background and personal circumstances, influence of peers and media, lack of awareness about children’s rights, fear, inability of authority figures to respond to cases and lack of policies are some of the factors cited as contributing to incidences of violence in schools.

9. Children and adults recommend awareness raising and capacity building activities for parents, teachers and children, clear policies, and collaborative measures that involve all stakeholders including community leaders as measures to address VAC in schools.

Other bullying statistics: • Over half, about 56 percent, of all students have witnesses a bullying crime take place while at school. • A reported 15 percent of all students who don't show up for school report it to being out of fear of being bullied while at school. • There are about 71 percent of students that report bullying as an on-going problem. • Along that same vein, about one out of every 10 students drops out or changes schools because of repeated bullying. • One out of every 20 students has seen a student with a gun at school. • Some of the top years for bullying include 4th through 8th graders in which 90 percent were reported as victims of some kind of bullying. • Other recent bullying statistics reveal that 54 percent of students reported that witnessing physical abuse at home can lead to violence in school. • Among students of all ages, homicide perpetrators were found to be twice as likely as homicide victims to have been bullied previously by their peers. • There are about 282,000 students that are reportedly attacked in high schools throughout the nation each month.

*Sources: makebeatsnotbeatdowns.org, olweus.org

Article taken from: http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/bullying-statistics-2010.html What are the effects of bullying?

Bullying may damage one’s self-image, can lead to absenteeism, chronic depression, decline in functioning and even in suicide. What is alarming is when children and even adults being bullied in social networks end up taking their own lives.

Bullying can even be done by SMS as what my two sisters and I had experienced, which caused so much distress in one of my sisters who subsequently developed a heart attack. My sister had to be placed in the Intensive Care Unit for this. I told her to change her SIM card to prevent further emotional distress.

Who is the bully?

A study conducted by The Center for Adolescent Studies at Indiana University compared bullying children and non-bullying children on their home environment and personal behaviors. Here are the important findings about bullies:

1. They watch more violent TV shows at home.

2. They misbehave at home more frequently.

3. They spend less time with adults at home.

4. At home, when they are disciplined, they face more forceful parental discipline.

5. Bullies have fewer positive adult role models.

6. Likewise, bullies have fewer positive peer influences.

7. Bullies also get into more fights.

This study also identified children who were “high-scale bullies” based on behaviors such as hitting, hurting and humiliating other children. Following observations resulted from the analysis of the family and social environment of high-scale bullies indicated that:

1. 36 percent of them came from single-parent homes.

2. Another 32 percent had step-parents.

3. They had easier access to guns.

4. They had more exposure to gang activities.

What are the signs that a person is being bullied?

1. Social isolation or withdrawal.

2. Feeling sad.

3. Anticipatory fear/anxiety of returning to the place where bullying has occurred.

4. Decline in previous level of functioning.

5. Low self-regard.

6. Bruises, abrasions and other marks.

How can we help a bullying victim?

It is important to listen and learn to be accepting of the bullying victim. Reassure the victim that you are on his/her side. If it is your child who has been bullied, inform him/her of your plan to go to school authorities to work on a plan to make the school a safer place for him/her. Assigning a school buddy for your child may be an option to lessen the chances of being bullied again. Having a teacher-mentor provides a “secure base” where the child can return to in times of distress or intimidation. Being always within the company of true friends also lessens the opportunity of the bully to pick on the victim.

Of course the child bully also needs to be helped by a professional because the circle of violence needs to be stopped in order to prevent him/her from evolving into a future juvenile delinquent and an adult sociopath.(A closer look at bullying: SECURITY BLANKET By Dr. Nina Halili-Jao (The Philippine Star) Updated October 14, 2012 )

A quick look on Anti-Bullying Act of 2012

In the Philippines, the House of Representatives has approved a bill requiring all elementary and secondary schools to adopt anti-bullying policies. House Bill 5496, the Anti-Bullying Act of 2012, seeks to promote greater awareness of the impact of bullying and how it can be prevented.

The bill requires that anti-bullying policies be included in the school’s student and employee handbook; details of the policies should be posted in school websites and school walls; schools shall submit their anti-bullying policies to the Department of Education (DepEd) within six months upon effectivity of the law; bullying incidents in schools must be reported to the division superintendents, who in turn shall report to the Education Secretary; and the DepEd must submit a report on bullying incidents to the appropriate congressional committee and impose sanctions on school administrators who do not implement anti-bullying policies.

With the approval of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2012, this year has started just right, providing relief for the millions of students who experience bullying in school. It is hoped that the Anti-Bullying Act of 2012 will help schools create an environment where children can develop their full potentials with suffering bullying from others. (Anti-Bullying Act of 2012 Posted by Online on Jan 18th, 2012)

Link Sources:

http://clinicalcounselor.blogspot.com/2011/10/bullying-statistics-2010.html

https://www.google.com.ph/#q=bullying+in+the+philippines+statistics+2012&ei=q_-tUaGuPO-iiAeK8IHQBg&start=10&sa=N&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47244034,d.aGc&fp=a5cd099600e97a6e&biw=1024&bih=462

http://www.tempo.com.ph/2012/01/anti-bullying-act-of-2012/#.Ua7ZR9JaxLc

http://www.philstar.com/allure/2012-10-14/859240/closer-look-bullying