This world-wide, age-old problem crosses the boundaries of race, age and gender, and creates serious barriers to learning. Share the different types of bullying with your learners to assist them in identifying when being bullied, and help keep them safe during the school year.
What is bullying?
Bullying is repeated, aggressive behaviour intended to hurt another person to gain a physical or psychological advantage. The bully uses threats, intimidation, cruelty, and/or forcing their will to achieve control over others. Girls tend to bully verbally while boys bully physically.
Types of bullying
There are different types of bullies. Many learners can be exposed to more than one type of bullying.
A. Physical
This is when physical force is used against someone to cause bodily harm.
- Shoving
- Spitting
- Pushing and kicking
- Punching
B. Verbal
This is when words are used to inflict harm and to try and upset someone.
- Teasing
- Taunting
- Name-calling
- Ridiculing
C. Non-verbal
This refers to behaviour that excludes, embarrasses or upsets another person.
- Writing hurtful messages
- Distributing harmful pictures and videos
- Letters and graffiti
D. Social
This refers to behaviour that is deliberate, hurtful and repetitive and intended to isolate someone.
- Leaving someone out
- Running away from someone
- Spreading rumours
- Social sabotage
E. Sexual
This refers to a form of bullying and harassment with sexual references.
- Sexual comments
- Sexual gestures
- Calling someone sexual and derogatory names
- Touching, grabbing or pinching in a sexual way
F. Cyber-bullying
This refers to the use of electronic technology to inflict harm on someone repetitively.
- Hurtful text messages or emails
- Spreading rumours by email or a social network
- Uploading embarrassing photos
Resolving bullying
The best way to approach bullying is to be well informed. Keep reading the latest articles and research to discover new and effective ways of addressing bullying. Familiarise yourself with the proper procedures that need to be taken so that the matter can be dealt with quickly and effectively. Visit these useful websites and find the contact details of organisations that can offer assistance.
How to teach about bullying
https://www.stopbullying.gov/educators/index.html
Stop Bullying Campaign
www.stopbullying.gov
www.teachsafeschools.org/bully_introduction.html
Respect me
https://respectme.co.za
Olweus Anti-Bullying Campaign
www.olweus.org/public/
Childline
Aims to protect children from all forms of violence and to promote children’s rights
0800 055 555
South African National Council for Child and Family Care
For child welfare and community outreach programmes
(011) 492- 2950
