Bullying is probably one of the most talked about issues during parent-teacher conferences in elementary schools aside from learning milestones and difficulties. For every school, be it in the elementary grades or high school and even college level, bullying has happened to a one person that we know of.
Bullying is not something parents should ignore. There have been reported tragedies which resulted in the bully-victims taking their own lives because of the bullying that they went through.
Bullying comes in different forms, aggressive or non-aggressive ways, done repeatedly over a period of time. Teasing, spreading malicious rumors and gossip, physical abuse like kicking, punching and biting, monetary extortion, exclusion of the victim from activities, cheating and mocking are just some of the ways a bully manifests his/her dirty tactics to his/her victims.
And yes, there is bullying in the early grades.
Profile of the bully. Bullies are often stereotyped as those who are physically big. They give the impression that they are a force to be reckoned with. Bullies, however, come in different shapes and sizes. There are those who are physically small but have a posse of physically big friends who flank them wherever they go, ready to lend a fist or two if the situation calls for it. There are those who are armed with a sweet smile and a charm that is endearing to others who have no inkling about their “bullying ways”. There are those smooth operators who can bully their victims in front of others without the spectators noticing anything wrong. But there are those who are attention seekers, inflicting physical pain to their victims, especially with others looking and cheering them on.
Bullies are said to be power-tripping egotistical beings, preying on those they feel are weaker, inferior to them and can easily submit to what they want done for them. They are oftentimes insecure and bully the math whiz or the budding scientist because they themselves are not capable of what the other can do. They want to be noticed though they manifest negative actions that do not merit positive recognition from others. Some bullies have been subjected to physical and verbal abuse at home. Some have a few positive adult interactions and adult role models. Exposure to violence through different media channels are also a factor to be considered.
Bullies operate to yield power, control, dominate and subjugate their victims.
There are those seen as bullies but cannot be categorically defined as such. These are the children with behavioural problems who have difficulties in controlling their impulses. They will push, bite, punch, kick and throw things not because they want to but because they lack the capacity to control their impulses.
On the other hand, children with special needs are most likely victims of the bullies rather than being the bully themselves though this will depend on the kind of behavioural intervention that these children diagnosed with special needs get.
Next topic: Victims of the bully
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