Bullying, or bullying and harassment of the weak, is unfortunately a common phenomenon in schools. According to statistics, 66% of minors have experienced peer violence at least once. The problem is often more complex than it appears, and passivity towards victims can lead to great misfortune. We explain how to react to the symptoms of bullying!
What is bullying and what does it manifest itself as?
Bullying is the intimidation, bullying and harassment of others. The term is most often used to refer to peer violence, which is a very serious problem in schools.
The scale of the problem is increasing year on year. The same survey conducted 10 years earlier indicated that 28% of minors surveyed had experienced psychological violence and 41% physical violence. By 2023, these statistics have risen to 43% and 48% respectively.
Bullying at school can take many forms. There are several types of it: physical, psychological, verbal, emotional and cyber.
The most common symptoms of peer violence include:
- ridicule and insults (humiliation, name-calling, making fun of appearance, interests, background, skin colour, etc.);
- physical attacks (hitting, kicking, pushing, knocking over, choking, holding, locking in rooms, etc.);
- ignoring and exclusion (breaking contact with the child, eliminating the child from community life, excluding the child from class activities, parties, games, leaving the child alone, isolating the child, etc.);
- Theft (misappropriation ofthe child’s belongings, extortion of money, etc.);
- destruction of other people’s property;
- intimidation and threats;
- humiliation (spitting at, coercing into sexual activities, exposing oneself, etc.); and
- defamation (spreading hate speech, inciting attacks, spreading false information, etc.);
- cyberbullying (ridicule online, heckling in comments, publishing rumours and disparaging material, etc.).
When can we talk about bullying? This is the term used to describe regularly recurring situations in which physically and mentally weaker people are bullied by stronger aggressors. These are not one-off incidents of bullying or altercations between pupils with similar levels of aggression.
Bullying at school – who are the most common victims and perpetrators?
Bullying is most often perpetrated by visibly weaker individuals who stand out in some way from their peers. Often these are young people with a different physicality.
The main influences on bullying in schools are:
- dissimilarity in appearance (height, weight, way of dressing, acne, etc. are often objects of ridicule and scorn);
- disabilities and illnesses (children with disabilities or various illnesses can be victims of ridicule and teasing and are easy targets for bullies);
- skin colour (in many places around the world, we encounter racism);
- origin (people from other countries, especially those infamous for stereotypes and world events, are frequent targets of violence);
- shyness (children who are withdrawn and have trouble making contact will be easier targets for aggressors);
- unusual interests (passions considered strange by peers);
- good academic performance (bullies often choose the best students in the class as victims).
It is worth stressing again that bullying at school always manifests itself in a division between a clearly weaker individual in the form of the victim and a much stronger one – the aggressor. The perpetrators are usually people who enjoy power and domination. They want to gain recognition from the group.
Their tendency to oppress weaker individuals also stems from, among other things, problems with feeling empathy. Aggressors do not realise how they are hurting their victims. They also often have low self-esteem, feel pressure to fit in with the group and are unable to resolve conflicts in an appropriate manner. This is combined with negative role models from home – the bully, i.e. the person responsible for bullying, may be struggling with a difficult family situation.
When all these aspects are taken into account, peer violence becomes a far more complex problem. It is important to understand that all negative behaviour is rooted in specific areas. Thus, not only the victim but also the perpetrator needs appropriate help.
Whatever the situation – it is crucial to take decisive action quickly. The most severe cases of bullying and the lack of appropriate help for the victim may even lead the victim to attempt to take his or her own life.
Solutions to keep your child safe at school
The Detective Store has a range of accessories that will guarantee your child’s safety at school. They will allow you to record valuable evidence that can help identify perpetrators and help the school take appropriate action.
Mini recorder for your child for school
Pocket dictaphones can record the attacks of perpetrators. In this way, it will be possible to take action against them and verify the situation. Models hidden in everyday objects will provide your child with complete discretion, which will not expose them to the escalation of the problem.
One such solution is the MVR-403 child recorder in a pin, which can be placed on clothing or in a rucksack, allowing precise recording of sound in high quality at a distance of up to 5 metres. The appearance of the device does not arouse suspicion, making the recording process completely discreet. The equipment offers up to 14 hours of continuous operation.
In contrast, the MVR-405 – a voice recorder in a watch – is one of the best and most discreet solutions for recording evidence if bullying takes place at work or school.
People have bought in the last 48h!
- Bluetooth communication
- Built-in memory of 16 GB
Spy camera for the child
Another useful solution to record evidence is a mini spy camera for your child. It is worth ensuring that the device offers good recording quality and is as discreet as possible.
The Esonic CAM-3HD is a recorder hidden in a pen. It guarantees a video resolution of 1280x720p, which translates into very clear footage. Its appearance does not arouse any suspicion, especially around school walls. A great advantage of the device is its intuitive operation.
People have bought in the last 48h!
- Function of motion detection
- Recording resolution 1280×720
GPS locator for your child
If you want more control over your child, it would be a good idea to equip them with a GPS locator. Not only will it allow you to pinpoint your little one’s exact location, but it will also enable you to call for help immediately in the event of an emergency. Many models are now equipped with SOS buttons, the pressing of which automatically connects the device to the parent’s phone.
The Garett Kids Twin is a GPS locator for a child in a watch. It not only allows fast communication and determines location, but also allows video calls. This is thanks to the built-in lens.
The Garett Kids Cloud smartwatch allows precise locating in several communication modes. It offers 3 days of continuous operation on a single charge, calling for help in front of the GPS button, as well as making video calls. In addition, it is waterproof.
People have bought in the last 48h!
- voice / video calls
- GPS, WiFi, LBS location
How to respond to bullying at school?
In order to prevent bullying, it is extremely important to educate young people on the subject. Victims of bullying feel frightened and, above all, alone. As parents, it is important to talk to your child about problems with peers. It is important to give him/her a sense of trust and show that you understand his/her position. It is also important to make the victim aware that the situation is not their fault.
Another necessary step is to talk to the teachers, the educationalist or the school principal. Asking them to pay attention to the victimised child, to observe him or her discreetly and to pass on evidence of bullying will contribute decisively to solving the unpleasant problem.
It is extremely important to give the child the feeling that he or she has a trusted group of people around him or her to whom he or she can confide problems. Talking about feelings in such a situation is worth its weight in gold.
It is also important to make witnesses of peer violence aware that they cannot be indifferent to this type of behaviour. They can be a great support for the victim. Every time you stand up to aggressors, you contribute to stopping them. Witnesses should immediately report any signs of bullying at school to teachers.
Perpetrators also need to be approached appropriately. If they do not see a problem in their behaviour, they should be isolated from the victim. Such individuals need education and encouragement for self-reflection. The school psychologist or educator should be responsible for the best possible pathway to work on their own behaviour.
Bullying at school – FAQ
Is your child struggling with peer violence? Or are you the victim? Find out the answers to the most frequently asked questions!
What is the punishment for bullying?
If the perpetrator of bullying is 17 or older, they can be tried as an adult. In the most serious cases, the limit drops to as low as 14 years. Juvenile perpetrators of bullying face probation supervision, reparation or referral to a correctional centre. In addition, parents may be required to pay a financial penalty.
Where to report bullying at school?
Teasing at school should be reported to an adult. This could be a parent, another family member, a favourite teacher, tutor or educator. Don’t be afraid to tell anyone who inspires your confidence about the problem.
How to react to bullying?
By far the most important step is to give the victim the right care. It is important to give her attention, a sense of support, to isolate the abuser from her and to ensure discretion. As a witness, do not ignore any signs of peer violence.