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Bullying

There is a new concern about school violence, and police have assumed greater responsibility for helping school officials ensure students’ safety. The most effective ways to prevent or lessen bullying, require school administrators’ commitment. Also increased effort by police interested in increasing school safety can use their influence to encourage schools to address the problem. This growing concern affects the Lincoln Police Department, parents, youth and the community. A partnership will enable the analysis of the problem, program of prevention and the assessment of results to reduce harm caused by specific crime and disorder problems. Working together we can better contribute to student safety.

Who is a bully?

Bullying occurs most often in elementary and somewhat less in middle and high school. Often a bully is someone that has themselves been the victim of abuse. They inflict repeated physical, verbal or psychological attacks or intimidation directed toward victim who cannot properly defend themselves because of size or strength or outnumbered. Infliction includes assault, tripping, intimidation, rumor-spreading and isolation, theft of valued possessions, destruction of another’s work or name calling. In addition to sexual harassment, ostracism based on perceived sexual orientation, or hazing (imposing painfully embarrassing initiation rituals

Victims of Bullying

Victims are usually someone smaller and weaker than their peers and often the nonassertive youth. Having friends, especially ones who will help protect against bullying, appears to reduce the chances of victimization. Occurrences most often happen, when adult supervision is low or absent, such as in the schoolyards, cafeterias, bathrooms, hallways and stairwells. Victims often are reluctant to report this assault, therefore the full extent of bullying is not known or intervention taken. Some reasons victims fail to notify teachers or parents are:

  • Fearing retaliations

  • Feeling shame at not being able to stand up for themselves

  • Fearing they would not be believed

  • Not wanting to worry their parents

  • Having no confidence that anything would change as a result

  • Thinking their parents’ or teacher’s advice would make the problem worse

  • Fearing their teacher would tell the bully who told on him or her

  • Thinking it was worse to be thought of as a snitch

Consequences of Bullying

Often consequences go beyond embarrassment. Some victims experience psychological and/or physical distress, are frequently absent and cannot concentrate on schoolwork. The often suffer from low self-esteem, and their victimization can lead to depression that can last for years.

Responses to Bullying in School

Analyze your local problem for better understanding of the extent of the problem and identifying bully hot spots, chronic victims and chronic offenders.


  • Develop an effective strategy to counter bullying.

      • Enlisting the school principal’s commitment and involvement.

        • The school principal’s commitment to and involvement in addressing school bullying are key.

        • Use a multifaceted, comprehensive approach.
          • Establishing a school-wide policy that addresses indirect bullying.
          • Providing guidelines for teachers, other staff and students on specific actions to take if bullying occurs.
          • Educating and involving parents so they understand the problem, recognize its signs and intervene appropriately.
          • Adopt specific strategies to deal with individual bullies and victims, including meeting with parents.
          • Encouraging students to report known bullying.
          • Developing a comprehensive reporting system to track bullying and interventions.
          • Encourage students to be helpful to classmates who may be bullied.
          • Develop strategies to counter bullying in specific school hot spots, using environmental redesign, increased supervision, or technological monitoring equipment.
          • Conduct post-intervention surveys to assess the strategies’ impact on school bullying.

  • Develop specific responses to reduce bullying.

      • Use “whole-school” approach.

        • This approach can reduce the level of bullying and other antisocial behavior, such as vandalism, fighting, theft, and truancy, and improve the “social climate” order and discipline in class. Results are achieved primarily in the second year.

        • Increase student reporting of bullying.

          • Students often resist reporting bullying, therefore some schools have set up a bully hot line. Or a “bully box” where students drop a note in the box.

      • Develop activities in less-supervised areas.

        • Trained supervisors can spot bullying and initiate activities that limit opportunities for it. Activities must be of interest to bullies and curb their behavior.

      • Reduce amount of time students can spend less supervised.

        • Reducing the amount of time available to students can reduce the amount of bullying.

      • Staggering recess, lunch and/or class-release times.

        • This minimizes the number of bullies and victims present at one time, so supervisor has less trouble spotting bullying.

      • Monitoring areas where bullying can be expected.

        • Monitor areas that bullies get caught, but may require increased staffing or trained volunteers.

      • Assign bullies to a particular location or to particular chores during release times.

        • This separates bullies fro their intended victims. Constructive tasks to occupy them during release times.

      • Post classroom signs prohibiting bullying and list the consequences for it.

        • This puts would-be bullies on notice and outlines the risks they take. MUST be enforced!

      • Provide teachers with effective classroom management training.

        • Classes containing students with behavioral, emotional or learning problems have more bullies and victims may require additional training for teachers in those classes.

      • Have high-level school administrators inform late-enrolling students about the school’s bullying policy.

        • Removes any excuse new students may have for bullying and stresses the importance the school places on countering it.





More Information Coming Soon!