Bullying at School

Foreword ix

Acknowledgments xl

Introduction 1

Part I What We Know About Bullying 5

Stories from the Press 7

What is Meant by Bullying? 8

Some Information About the Recent Studies 10

One Student out of Seven 13

Bully/Victim Problems in Different Grades 14

Have Bully/Victim Problems Increased? 17

Bullying Among Boys and Girls 18

How Much Do the Teachers Do? How Much Do the Parents Know? 20

Bullying at School and on the Way to and from School 21

Comparison between Norway and Sweden 21

Is Bullying Primarily a Big-City Problem? 23

The Size of the School and the Class 23

Supervision during Recess and Lunch Time 25

On Analyses at Different Levels 26

Stability of Bully/Victim Problems over Time 27

Is Bullying a Consequence of Competition at School? 28

What Role do External Deviations Play? 30

What Characterizes the Typical Victims? 31

What Characterizes the Typical Bullies? 34

Physical Weakness and Strength 36

A Concrete Picture 37

What Kind of Rearing Conditions Create Aggressive Children? 39

Group Mechanisms 43

Other Factors 45

A Wider Perspective on Bully/Victim Problems 45

A Question of Fundamental Democratic Rights 48

Portrait Sketches of Henry and Roger, a Victim and a Bully 49

Guide for the Identification of Possible Victims and Bullies 53

Being a Victim - Possible Signs 54

Being a Bully - Possible Signs 58

Part II What We Can Do About Bullying 61

Overview of Intervention Program 64

Goals 65

Awareness and Involvement 66

Measures at the School Level 69

A School Conference Day 69

Supervision and Outdoor Environment 70

Contact Telephone 74

A General PTA Meeting 75

Teacher Groups for the Development of the Social Milieu of the School 77

Study Groups in Parent-Teacher Associations (Parent Circles) 79

Measures at the Class Level 81

Class Rules about Bullying 81

Praise 85

Sanctions 86

Class Meetings 88

Cooperative Learning 89

Common Positive Activities 92

Class PTA Meetings 93

Measures at the Individual Level 97

Serious Talks with the Bully 97

Talks with the Victim 97

Talks with the Parents 100

What Can the Parents of the Bully Do? 101

What Can the Parents of the Victim Do? 103

Use of Imagination 105

Discussion Groups for Parents of Bullied or Bullying Students 106

Change of Class or School 107

Part III Effects of the Intervention Program 109

Main Findings 113

Brief Comments 114

Basic Principles 115

Additional Characteristics 116

Part IV Additional Practical Advice and a Core Program 119

Support from the Principal and Formation of a Coordinating Group 122

Awareness and Involvement 123

Adequate Supervision During Recess and Lunch Time 124

Class Rules and Class Meetings 124

Talks with Involved Students and Their Parents 125

Overview of Core Program 127

Final words 128

References 129

Index 137