Threaded Discussion Question (Teasing and Bullying)

1. Is there a difference between teasing and bullying?
2. How can teachers determine when their intervention is necessary?
3. How can a teacher determine when a student is being bullied?
4. When should teachers report bullying to parents?

Answers

 

1. Both teasing and bullying usually involve poking fun at someone in a way that we think is funny or joking around with them. However there is a significant difference between the two. Teasing generally involves a sense of play and mutual "messing" around. Teasing will rarely, if ever, involve important personal characteristics.  Bullying is often about religion, race, appearance and is differentiated from teasing because of intention. Those who bully actually intend to do harm, whereas teasing is supposed to be a harmless game.
2. A teacher should go by instinct as far as their intervention. If they feel even the slightest hint that one of their student is being bullied or witness it, they should immediately interject and assess the situation appropriately and quickly. By breaking up the problem quickly it eliminates the chance of the situation escalating to a more severe case.
3. It is probably difficult for a teacher to determine if a student is being bullied, but some helpful hints could be in the way the child acts in the class. What is their attitude like? Who do they sit with? Do they try to purposely avoid anyone? it is the little things like that that can help a teacher in their decision of a possible bullying problem.
4. A teacher should report bullying to parents as soon as possible. By alerting the parents, teachers can allow them to talk to their children at home about the significance of bullying and how bad it is. Parent involvement with bullying is a beneficial factor in the elimination of bullying altogether.