Usually, there might be a case of bullying in every class although we do not realize it. If we observe our different primary school experiences, we can observe that in María’s class someone suffered bullying: “I remember that in my class and more than one year some boys and girls were victims of bullying. The rest of the class insulted the due to their physique, their race or because they were shy. I exactly remember those children, because I did not like the behaviour of the class. I know that sometimes I defended the children that were suffering, but other times I did not, and nowadays I regret the times I did not do it”
We think that as teachers as we are going to be, we have to be prepared to be able to detect the cases in which someone is being harassed, to be able to solve it and, also, to prevent it. But, firstly, we have to know: What is bullying? According with Ángel R. C. and Francisco B. (2007) the bullying is “relationship of harassment and school intimidation” , a process through which a student is repeatedly exposed in the school to violent actions (physical, psychological, social or verbal) that are carried out by another or by other students with greater force or power. These aggressions begin with the intention of dominating and causing damage in different ways to some partner who is chosen as a victim and, as a consequence of the same or the threat of their being carried out, the victimized person suffers continued physical, psychological or social damage and becomes unable to leave that relationship.
To know that exists a problem and to know its consequences makes it easier for us to feel the need to solve it. The school environment is where the greatest number of situations exist that allow the detection of indicators of school violence and harassment, so that teachers play a fundamental role in this detection (Serrano, 2006).
An interesting idea by Blaya (2003) that appears in Serrano's book (2006) states that a detection on time by teachers may even lead to a violent situation not becoming a case of school bullying ,but, simply, a timely conflict.
According with Serrano (2006) for the detection of a victim is important to pay attention to some indicators:
In class:
- The child starts to miss class.
- The child is intimidated and nervous when intervening in class and his classmates laugh at him when he participates.
- He isolates himself from the group.
- He leaves the class the last or the first one.
- He enter the class, several times, after the break with blows or bruises.
Out of class:
- The child is restless and nervous.
- He has mood swings.
- He looks depressed, lonely or he is always with the same person.
- THe victim evades meeting certains classmates.
The following indicators are for recognize the bully:
In class:
- He enjoys laughing at his classmates when they participate in class.
- He usually breaks the classroom rules.
- He is rebellious before the calls of attention.
- The child evades his responsibilities.
Out of class:
- He is overbearing and unreflective.
- He behaves aggressively.
- He enjoys humiliating his closest peer group whenever he has opportunity.
- The lack of respect as a way of interacting with others to get something or solve problems.
- He imposes his point of view and always wants to be right.
- He is dominant in relationships with his peers.
- Is proud of his violent actions.
- He does not have empathy.
- He does not take responsibility for his actions and he does not apologize.
Serrano (2006) gives us good guidelines for teachers:
- If the teacher is a direct witness to the situation of violence:
We must intervene in the aggression to put an end to it. Subsequently, we have to talk to the victim in private and determine the degree of aggression. Separately, we must talk to the aggressor and ask him clear questions about the aggression, without compromising the victim.
It should be communicated to the guidance office to inform the guardian, the principal, and inform the organizations of the Educational Administration. Once the severity of the case has been studied, the sanction must be communicated to the aggressor, the victim and the parents of both.
- If the teacher suspects that a student may be being victimized:
This suspicion must be reported to the psycho-pedagogical office, the tutor and the director. The tutor must alert all teachers of the affected class. In addition, it is necessary to establish topics of school coexistence in the classroom and pay attention to conversations of the students, especially at times outside of class. This would help to clarify whether the suspicion of school violence is true or not.
We think that in order to prevent the bullying it is important to inform the students about the seriousness that this could cause, to create coexistence among the students and to teach them to respect each other.
REFERENCES
- Calvo, A. R, Bllesteros, F. (2007). Acoso escolar: procedimientos e intervención. Madrid: EOS.
- Serrano, A. (2006). Acoso y violencia en la escuela. Cómo detectar, prevenir y resolver el bullying. Barcelona: Ariel.
