Round Table Assignment

An astonishing 160000 children miss school each day due to the fear of being
bullied. Why is this important? According to a nationwide website designed for bullying,
StopBullying.gov, Bullying is defined as the unwanted, aggressive behavior among
school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. In other words,
bullying can either be purposely physical or verbally aggressive towards another
individual in order to gain power over him/her. Jaana Juvonen, author of The ones who
are cool bully more, and the ones who bully more are seen as cool, states that 28% of
students grades 6-12 have experienced some type of bullying (Juvonen, Paragraph 3).
This statistic affects many individuals nationwide; however, this targets 3 major voices
that contribute or can possibly prevent the act of bullying: parents, teachers, and the
victims themselves.
Only 1 in 6 parents are aware that his/her child has been suffering from bullying
happening in schools. The parents of those who have been a target of victimization go
through a great deal of stress; however, do parents play a major role in bullying?
According to Ken Rigby, professor at Hawke Research Institute and school of education,
Bullying can best be conceived as a relationship problem to which many factors
contribute (Rigby, Paragraph 4). This statement correlates to the relationship that the
child has with his/her parents because parents actions are very influential to children and
teenagers. Although upsetting to some parents, this group plays a major role on bullying.
Ken Rigby states in his article; relationships between style of parenting and bully
behavior may vary (Rigby, Paragraph 10). The way that parents raise their children
correlates directly with their childs actions outside of home and with the results that are
occurring in schools. For instance, if parents demonstrate aggression towards one another
or in general, their child may also behave the same way. The relationship between
parents and their children is displayed in this statement because of the influential factors
the parents display.
School and parenting go hand in hand with each other when dealing with bullying
because the childs actions at home can transition to be displayed in school. According to
Kenneth Shore, a school and family psychologist, bullying incidents occur at public
schools involving teenagers and children. Are their any authoritative figures that are
responsible for cutting down bullying in public schools? Teachers, along with other
important figures such as principals, set rules and guidelines that students shall abide to.
Kenneth Shore states throughout his article that there are a variety of different ways
teachers can Bully-Proof their classroom. For example, if a teacher catches a bully in
an act of kindness, he/she can use reverse psychology on the bully by fawning him/her
for being nice. Statistics show, as stated in Shores article, schools can cut bullying by as
much as 50% with a school-wide prevention program (Shore, Paragraph 3). In doing so,
this would get the attention of the other students and allow them to voice his/her opinion
about the situation. It is hard for teachers to regulate/prevent bullying because it is not a
guarantee that all students will listen and follow the rules; however, teachers must be
more strict and aware to improve the classroom environment.
Victims of bullying may consist of just an average day individual; teenagers and
children are prone to bullying because school is a large environment and individuals may
judge one another. Bullying can lead to many long-term effects in ones life if continued
for a while. In Marcel F. van der Wals article, a doctor in Netherlands, he states that girls
were found to have the most effects on them such as suicidal and depression (Van de
Wal, Paragraph 5). This statement may result in the way it does because some girls may
not know how to deal with certain situations such as bullying. Leighton Kille, publisher
of a scholarly journal called Impact of bullying in childhood, describes the effects of
bullying. According to William E. Copeland, researcher at Duke University, in Killes
journal, states, bullied children were often found to be those who were withdrawn or
physically weak. Victims of victimization, or bullying, are a group that is widely spread
throughout many areas nationwide. Bully victims exhibited the greatest overall long-
term impairment, including the worst health outcomes in adulthood (Kille, Paragraph 6).
This statement can correlate with parents and school because most bullying incidents
happen in schools and Killes journal describes the results of that. Parents have a
connection with this because of their influence on bullying.
As stated above, bullying is a serious topic that is affecting the public in various
types of ways. From affecting the parents of the victim, to the victims themselves, to the
teachers, each voice and group has its own impact on bullying. These 3 major voices can
all be connected and linked to bullying by playing a major role in preventing bullying,
influencing bullying, and offering a place where it can occur which is in public schools.
For example, parents behavior can influence their child at home that can be brought into
the classroom, which allows the teacher to play a role in an attempt to stop or prevent
bullying. With the supporting details and foremost voices of bullying listed above, will
there ever be an end to bullying? Are their going to be any innovative studies conducts
relating to bullying in the near future?

Works Cited


Rigby, Ken. Family Matters No. 92, 2013 Bullying in Schools and Its
Relation to Parenting and Family Life. Australian Institute of Family Matters, 25
July 2012. Web. 21 Mar. 2014

Shore, Kenneth. Preventing Bullying: Nine Ways to Bully-Proof Your
Classroom. N.p., n.d. Web. eds.b.ebscohost.com

Kille, Leighton W Journalists Resource. Impact of Bullying in Childhood
on Adult Health, Wealth, Crime and Social Outcomes (n.d): n. pag. Web. 1 Sept.
2003.

Bullying Definition. Home. US Department of Health and Human Services, n.d
Web. 07 Apr. 2014.

NOBullying.com. No BullyingExpert Advice On Cyber Bullying School Bullying.
N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2014.

Wal, Marcel V. Psychosocial Health Among Young Victims and
Offenders of Direct and Indirect Bullying. Psychological Health Among Young
Victims and Offenders of Direct and Indirect Bullying. N.p., 12 Nov. 2002. Web.
08 Apr. 2014.