Page 17 - Mini-Module 6

An effective whole of school strategy will propose the action
that parents can take if they believe their child is being
bullied both at school and outside of school. It is not enough
for the parent to come to the principal’s office and say “My
child was bullied yesterday – what are you going to do about
it?” The whole of school strategy should deal with ways of
empowering parents to have an active role in preventing
bullying.

Step 3: Involve Students
Includes the following processes:

● determining the role students will play in the
development of the school plan.
● deciding on strategies for involving students in the
plan – including setting timelines and choosing the
staff who will mentor and supervise the process of
student involvement.
The peer group onlookers play a very important role bullying.
While most children will say that watching bullying makes
them feel upset or uncomfortable, it is nevertheless a fact
that most bullying takes place in front of others. A ‘gang’
mentality can occur that sustains bullying, for inhibitions are
lowered when several people are perceived to be involved.
Unfortunately it is also the case that when children (and
adults) see someone bullying a victim, they may join in or
laugh and joke about it. In other words, they do not walk
away or intervene, but they sustain the bullying through their
passive or active involvement. This often happens when
those who observe bullying feel that they themselves lack
status and want to join with their peer group to be accepted
as a part of the ‘gang’.

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