Solutions To The Rise Of Bullying
There are many reasons for the rise of bullying in the teen culture. The statistics are alarming. However, there are also many solutions too.
Unfortunately one of the growing issues in the teen world is bullying. It has become a by-product of the violence in our world, the tension and anger caused by the pandemic regulations, a lack of social skills and community, teen's addiction to screens, a lack of communication and relational development, and lost problem-solving and decision-making skills.
The statistics are not pretty. There are many statistics out on this growing issue.
Appearance, Race, and Identity
Let me give you some research that was based across 37 states and almost 200,000 teenagers. It is from The Hechinger Report, an innovative research company that works with educators and school systems. In one of their reports The Hechinger Report stated,
“Our analyzed insights about bullying from survey responses of more than 180,000 students in grades 5-12 across 37 states have taught us a lot the last two years. We’ve learned that most bullying still happens in person (not online). Although, the online aspect of bullying has certainly added to the rise of bullying.
The research also stated that the top three reasons students felt they were bullied included their appearance, their race or skin color, and because other students thought they were gay. Overall, just over one in four students in 2016 said they were bullied for various reasons. And those numbers are rising.”
The following are more data sets from the Hechinger Report:
-Thirty-three percent of students, or one in three, reported being bullied in the 2017-18 school year — up from just over one in four two years ago
-Our data also showed that middle-school students experienced bullying at higher rates than did high-school students — nearly 40 percent, compared to 27 percent.
The researchers DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services) found that youth who were frequently involved with bullying behaviors, regardless of the type of bullying involved, reported higher depression scores than did youth only occasionally involved with such behaviors. The fact is, bullying is life-changing for the bully and the bullied.
Solutions
So let’s look here at some solutions to the rise in bullying.
1. One of the things that I believe could help students with bullying is the development of tribes (groups or clicks or squads or sub-groups) that students can be accepted in.
Tribes would be the new form of an old issue called clicks. Yes, you heard me. Clicks, let’s call them tribes, can be a good thing.
In the purest sense, tribes can become an avenue into the group for types of teenagers. I’ve heard people speak poorly of clicks and how bad they can be, but, very few people see the value in them. Let me explain this better and help you unlearn this old idea of clicks.
Tribes can be valuable because they work upon a code or a set of understandings between the people in them. And this can become a safe place for people of a certain group or set who have no place to belong. Healthy tribes can create a healthy youth culture.
2. Report bullying.
If enough people report bullying it can easily be stopped. Leadership in the youth setting will know exactly what to do when bullying is reported.
When there is a comfort to report bullying, pressure is placed on the bully. And peace is placed on the bullied.
Who do I report to? Report to youth leaders, coaches, teachers, staff, counselors, and building principals. These healthy leaders will create a healthy culture that will build healthy students who build healthy societies. Place the responsibility of confronting bullying on the shoulders of leaders who will know what to do when bullying is reported.
3. Value Relationship Above Programming.
No room for partiality or judgment. And no room for programming that is anti-social.
Relationships are the best avenue of entry into the youth setting such as a school, youth group, or team. Every type and kind of person can be reached by their own type and kind much easier. In a relationally healthy youth setting, relationship valuation can become the culture that builds acceptance and community.
As leaders, we must model relationship building. Hopefully that example can create the greatest value upon people and not programs. Programs are cold and un-relational. People are warm and communal.
4. Ownership and student buy-in.
We need a thousand principals in the school setting. Haha. What I mean by this is that students need to become the voice of peace and accountability of bullying that takes place. More students to lead and commit to greater shared ownership of their school, youth group, or team.
Growth in the youth setting will come from healthy shared teen ownership. These kind of young leaders are influencers and culture-setters. Healthy leaders create healthy students who create healthy youth settings who transform society. Peer correction and accountability is powerful.
5. Peer Culture stops bullying.
As students own the youth setting the school setting, watch the culture of honor and acceptance be set quickly. And in the presence of bullying, when students lead, a respect for each other, acceptance of each other, and self-confidence will rise. And when that happens, this honor and acceptance will go a long way to help stop bullying.
Where there is respect and honor of the differences in appearance, race, or sexual orientation, there will be a defense against bullying.
Finally
Why the rise of bullying? There are many reasons for the rise of bullying. It's pretty clear looking at the research.
The problem is not an easy one to solve. But, if you apply these 5 principles, I believe we can stop the growth of bullying in this generation.
I’ve heard many students say you either have to bully or get bullied. I’m not sure that is true, but, it is a prevalent thought among teenagers. We have to give our young people better skills to cope with the problem of bullying. With just a little effort, you can use these 5 principles to help stop the rise of bullying in your setting.