Bullying is defined as “aggressive, calculated actions perpetrated by a group or an individual repeatedly and overtime against a victim who cannot easily defend themselves. Bullying may be physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual in nature.”

If you ask the average teenager if they have ever been bullied, most of them would say yes. This is such a shame, as we know that students who are bullied are more likely to receive poor grades, suffer from mental health issues, drop out of school, or even commit suicide than those who are not.

Bullying involves an imbalanced relationship between the perpetrator and the victim. The bully gains power, while victim loses power. Because of this, it is hard for the victim to deal with the problem. An imbalance of power can be created from physical strength, social status, etc. Power can also be gained as a result of understanding a person’s perceived weaknesses (e.g., appearance, disability, home life, personal characteristics, etc.) and using this knowledge against them.

How to end bullying

Schools profess to be tough on bullying, but often the bully ends up getting a slap on the wrist. The next day the victim must deal with the same harassment, only worse because the bully is upset that they were disciplined in the first place. Schools can easily end bullying by taking a zero-tolerance approach to it.

I know some would argue that this is a harsh stance, as many bullies are victims themselves. Their bullying behavior is a manifestation of the trauma that they have experienced and the insecurities that they possess. I agree with you to a certain extent, but can we continue to allow them to terrorize their classmates? I say no.

When a student’s bullying and antisocial behavior becomes a trend rather than an isolated incident, their parents should be required to sit down with administrators and teachers to discuss the destructiveness of their child’s behavior and to develop a behavior modification plan. If the bullying behavior continues, the student should receive treatment from a certified mental health professional who will help the student to process their underlying issues. The same mental health services should be afforded to the student being bullied, but it would be voluntary.

The bully should be expected to continue therapy sessions until a mental health professional certifies that in their professional opinion, the student has made enough progress for therapy to be concluded. Remember, with treatment, it sometimes only takes a couple of sessions for people to see tremendous improvement.

On the other hand, if the student continues the same behavior, and does not attend or respond to therapy, placing the child in an alternative school setting may be the best course of action. They can continue their education in an environment that is equipped to detail with behavior issues and continue to receive therapy. When their behavior returns a level that is conducive to healthy peer relationships, they can return to school.

Maybe my recommendations seem a bit punitive, but would you rather keep them in a traditional school setting where they will continue to disrupt the learning environment? We are not casting them away, just removing them from an environment that brings out the worst in them, placing them in an alternative one, all while getting them the mental health that they need. What do you think? Is my zero-tolerance approach to bullying off base or out of touch with reality?