School is responsible for violence happening at and in the vicinity of school premises! School principal, teachers and professionals are obliged to prevent and stop every form of violence at school and, if necessary, to cooperate with the police and social services.

It is important that school ensures a ‘safe’ place where all those who feel victimised may find shelter, that school itself (i.e. through the behaviour of its employees) is a model of non-violent and positive behaviour and respect towards students and that it adequately controls places of potential attacks and intimidation.

Important!

• Give support and cooperate with the victim and his/her parents

• Get accurate picture of what happened

• The aim of any intervention must be stopping the behaviour

• Try to do everything so that the incident is not repeated

• Raise students’ awareness and help the victim together

• Try to change the bully’s behaviour, give him/her support if s/he understands the problem and admits responsibility

• Immediate intervention is unquestionable and necessary

• Develop adequate behaviours in the classroom

• Encourage students’ reporting intimidation

• Ensure atmosphere where students can safely report if being intimidated

• Notice lonely and sad students and find out about their reasons for that

• Do not accept inappropriate behaviours as part of joking and growing up

• Do not advise children not to pay attention and to cope on their own

• Give example of appropriate behaviour

• Talk separately with the victim and the bully alone about the incident

• Explain which behaviours are acceptable and which are not

• Inform and include both the victim’s and the bully’s parents in the prevention plan against further violent behaviour and intimidation

• Include the bully in the education and modification of unacceptable behaviours

• Include children victims in support groups to increase their self-confidence and social skills and to meet new friends

Prevention of violent behaviour and intimidation at school

If we want to prevent the occurrence of violence among children in the school environment, it is important that we:

• Achieve good communication among teachers, professionals, parents and students

• Avoid gender stereotypes like “Boys should be strong and tough”

• Avoid supporting competitive behaviours among children

• Organise workshops of social skills, assertiveness, quality of communication, conflict and problem solving

• Design class rules and codes (e.g.: We do not want to be pushed and hit! We do not want to be called names and teased!)

• Acknowledge positive, empathetic, friendly behaviours and support among students

• Teach children non-aggressive behaviours daily and promote the value of tolerance for differences – gender, religious and national

• Be a role model showing respect and support among the school staff and students

• Design groups and activities which would draw less popular and more withdrawn students out of social isolation.

VIOLENCE AT SCHOOL IS A PROBLEM TO PREVENT!

WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR STOPPING THE VIOLENCE!

CLASSROOMS MUST BE SAFE PLACES!

CHILDREN AND YOUTH CANNOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM ON THEIR OWN – ADULTS ARE IN CHARGE!


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