Kids look to us for cues on how to treat other people. We may be unknowingly acting in ways that contribute to a culture of bullying.
While preparing a presentation for my colleagues on the problem of bullying, I began to think about the problem from a different angle.
When we talk about bullying in schools, we almost always focus exclusively on how students treat other students. But there are other components involved in providing a safe and positive climate for kids. How staff members treat students and each other sends powerful messages to kids about what behavior is appropriate and tolerated.
Think about the following as it pertains to your work with kids as well as your colleagues:
In my interactions with other staff members, do I ever normalize disrespectful behavior by:
- Gossiping about other staff members or student families?
- Trying to intimidate or pressure them?
- Attacking or dismissing their opinions and ideas when they are different from my own?
- Trying to get other staff members “on my side” when I have a disagreement with a colleague?
In my interactions with students, do I ever normalize disrespectful behavior by:
- Belittling or embarrassing students, either privately or in front of their peers?
- Using a student or his work as a negative example for other students?
- Violating a student’s privacy by sharing personal information or grades with other students?
- Making “jokes” about a student to get a laugh out of the class?
- Dismissing or ignore a student’s request for help?
- Showing disapproval or contempt for a student through my words, actions, or body language?
