Curbing Bullying

Abstract

“On April 20, 1999, the corridors and classrooms of Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, reverberated with the sound of gunshots. Two students, armed with assault weapons and explosives, had gone on a rampage, killing a teacher and several of their fellow students. They then turned their guns on themselves.” (p. 373) Bullying is epidemic and no longer can be ignored! Within this commentary article, there is a research that has been performed in Norway by Psychologist Dan Olweus that improved the bullying program. One method suggested that a potential key for improvement to the bullying program, if implemented robustly, includes: seeing, thinking, and doing social skills. Another method would consist of having all parties within the public school system be involved and work together to help stop unwanted aggressive behavior. This could involve identifying the problem and educating school staff as well as parents on bullying. Next, develop a program, as Dr. Olweus has described in his approach. Finally, implement the program. Dr. Olweus’ results noted a decrease in bullying by half in every grade level. The purpose of this article is to help the school systems either improve any anti-bullying program that is already implemented or help to guide and discuss a successful program if none currently exists. Unfortunately, bullying will most likely always exist, just as many kinds of discrimination exist. However, there may be other benefits for children who learn social skills positively. For example, having deeper levels of empathy, learning to have a communal relationship versus exchange relationship, or being a more romantic partner. Moreover, if bullying decreases within the public school system, then children may miss less school and obtain a quality education.