Teachers possibly under-equipped for addressing bullying

PhD fellow Beau Oldenburg studies the role of the teacher in countering bullying. Her findings show that the group of teachers studied was not always sufficiently equipped to tackle bullying. ‘For example, teachers find it very difficult to establish whether someone is actually being bullied, as bullying often takes place out of their sight. Nevertheless, it is of great importance to take all signals regarding bullying seriously’, says Oldenburg. ‘In doing so, teachers should set themselves realistic goals. It is impossible to eliminate bullying altogether, but teachers can make a difference and truly improve the situation for victims of bullying.’ During national ‘No Bullying Week’, Oldenburg offers online videos with daily tips on strengthening the teacher's personal style and stimulating a socially safe classroom environment.

More information

• Beau Oldenburg
• Website No Bullying Week
• Press release from September 2015 Reduction of bullying behaviour at KiVa anti-bullying schools

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