Educators Talk Bullying Prevention

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RICHLAND COUNTY(WOLO) — No charges were filed Monday when deputies say a student stabbed another student who they say had been bullying him. With that incident in mind and children back in school, bullying prevention is once again at the forefront. Educators are now giving insight on how they train teachers to stop the problem before it begins. According to Columbia College Professor of Education Tracy West, “Being an effective teacher is so much more than just teaching the reading the math and the science.” West says the behavior and social skills taught in the classroom are equally as important as the academics. Skills which include bullying prevention. “It’s not a separate program it’s not a separate initiative it needs to be part of the foundation of the classroom,” West says. According to West, understanding the potential causes of bullying is essential for teachers trying to adopt an anti-bullying philosophy. West explains,”There are lots of theories about why children bully. This is a way of seeking belonging because if you’re not getting appropriate types of attention or you’re not able to create strong friendships in a natural and healthy way, they figure out a way.” The teacher says that technology like texting and social media has amplified the bullying issues, providing adolescents with new avenues to antagonize others. “We have to be looking at it on both fronts, both the technology front and within the classroom. It is our responsibility to go back to while we’re a community physically together here at school outside of school that there’s this same responsibility,” West says on the dilemma. In order to thwart the destructive behavior, West suggests teachers emphasize the importance of collaboration inside and out of the classroom. “Establish a community of learners in which they have strong relationships with their students and they are nurturing those relationships among and with in those students,” recommends West. Impressing upon students the impact today’s actions could have on their futures.