According to Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center, 1 in 5 students will be bullied. When your child is bullied how do you bring it to the attention of the school? According to stopbullying.gov, the most effective strategy to stop bullying is to get the entire school community involved. Here are 7 effective communication strategies for you to try.
1. Get All the Facts
First, when your child comes to you and says that they were bullied, make sure you get all the facts. It may be helpful to write down who was involved, where, when, and what happened. This will help you keep things straight when you approach the school. Also, take a look at the school’s anti-bullying policy or student handbook. Most educators take their role of creating a safe environment for students seriously and will help you find a solution.
2. Ask Teachers About Observations
It’s best to bring the situation to your child’s teachers first and see what they have observed. Ask them if they have seen any bullying. It’s also good to ask how your child is getting along in class and if they seem isolated. You can then come up with a plan of action. Schedule a follow-up meeting to talk about progress.
3. Involve the School Guidance Counselor
A school guidance counselor will know how to handle the situation. They can help your child deal with the stress of being bullied and can speak to other children involved. School counselors can also help create more adult supervision in bullying hotspots like the cafeteria and hallways. Additionally, they can hold assemblies or classroom presentations about bullying to help stop it.
4. If No Improvement Speak with the Principal
If you don’t see any improvement in the situation, the next step is to talk to the principal. Make sure that you bring your documentation of events and the notes from the meetings you’ve had with teachers, counselors, etc. Make sure to not be accusatory and present all the information. You should leave the meeting with the next steps and a plan to solve the issue.
5. Ask the School to Keep a Written Record
When you meet with school administrators, ask them to keep a written record. This could be helpful if you need to consult legal counsel, the superintendent, or the school board in the future. It will also keep all parties involved accountable. Then, everyone can look back to see if progress has been made.
6. Give the School Reasonable Time to Investigate
Most schools will conduct a thorough investigation into a bullying incident. This may mean sitting down with all the students involved. Make sure that you are reasonable with your expectations and that you know the timeline for the investigation. If you haven’t heard anything from the school after this period, then you may need to follow up.
7. Work with Other Parents
The involvement of parents is important to stopping bullying in schools. Research suggests that children benefit when there is a strong partnership between schools and families. When you are connected to other parents, it’s easier to communicate if a problem arises. Plus, parents
Stopping Bullying in Schools
It takes a whole school community to stop bullying. That’s why it’s so important to bring any incidents to the attention of teachers and administrators. When everyone is on board to create a positive environment for kids, bullying can be stopped.