Teacher Training Lab Anti-Bullying

Policy Review and Legislation, Codes of Conduct, BELA, and Psychosocial Interventions

‘Bullying’ is an umbrella term for abuse within the peer group. It is characterised by a pattern of harassment, involving insults, nasty pranks, exclusion and other harmful acts. Bullying is usually orchestrated by an influential peer, who enjoins others to participate.

Impacting the peer group is the agenda of children and adolescents who bully: they derive status from cultivating followers and weaponising friendships. It solidifies their standing and empowers them in the peer group. The spectacle of bullying garners popularity for the individual/s who bully.

‘Bullying’ describes a pattern of anti-social behaviour that must be nipped in the bud from day one.

Well-informed adult interventions can successfully stop bullying in its tracks. This requires accurate policies & procedures that are consistently implemented.

Bullying occurs in the absence of boundaries and adult vigilance. Those in charge must establish boundaries, must be vigilant, and must organise a coherent process for dealing with bullying. This involves a proper procedure for victims of bullying to disclose bullying, for witnesses to report bullying, and for learners who initiate, instigate and participate in bullying, to be held accountable, including rehabilitation for their destructive behaviour.

As uncomfortable as it may be for adults to accept, children who bully are aware that it hurts, they are aware it is wrong (hence the lies and deception that inevitably accompanies their behaviour), and are motivated by their victim’s distress. For this reason, only adult interventions can stop bullying. It is a discipline issue, not an interpersonal one.

The South African Schools Act (SASA) and the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA), together with the Constitution and various other legislation, all prohibit bullying. Schools have a legal mandate to protect learners from harm on school property - and this includes protection from abusive peers.

‘Bullying’ is ‘harassment’ in legal terms, and is defined as “unwanted conduct that impairs dignity”.

Crucially, adults must know the difference between bullying and conflict, to assist learners and colleagues to either 1) identify and resolve normal disagreements, or 2) report abuse.

The Teacher Training Lab provides comprehensive anti-bullying training for your school:

• We review a school’s anti-bullying policy, make recommendations framed by legislation, differentiate bullying from conflict, and teach learners and staff about boundaries and rights, particularly the terrain of ‘harassment’ and misconduct.

• We assist with processes for disclosures of bullying, the implementation of restorative justice, and connect school policy to codes of conduct and parent support.