The recent news of bullying a student by some students that is also from among the girl in one of the school in our state has really shocked me. This means that ragging and bullying incidents is still happening around us both secretly and openly despite organizing ‘signature campaigns’ and ‘ stop bullying campaign’ through print and social media.
However, it has little impact and consequences on this issue. Research from 2024 revealed that 30% of Indian students subjected to cyberbullying. Looking into wider perspective, preventing and stopping bullying involves a commitment to creating a safe environment where children can thrive socially and academically.
Bullying in school has dramatically increased over time. UNESCO also declared the first Thursday of November as ‘International Day against School Violence and Bullying’.
In India, it is being celebrated in the month of October. Bullying can be best described as an aggressive behavior that is intentional and involvement of power or strength upon its subordinates, colleagues and juniors.
It is a repeated irritating behavior that involves physical as well as verbal means. For years, most bullying incidents were reported from the schools and some in mildly in workplace.
With technological advancement at its peak and social media being an instrument for creating an avenue such as cyberbullying that happens online and via cell phones. Some easy prey leading to bullying is through websites like YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat which allows children to send hurtful comments.
Most bullying happens with boys as compared to girls. But girls are also not very far behind as many incidents of bullying among the girls are being reported.
Teachers need to be aware that bullying generally happens in the bathroom, playground, recess, school buses etc. By noticing it and just emphasizing by telling is not tattling.
If a teacher observes the students bullying in anywhere then immediately he/she needs to immediately intervene to stop it, record the incident and inform the concerned authority for investigation.
In another way, a teacher can also communicate with the parents after noticing the behavior of the students so that right advice can be given to them through correctional means.
Parents are the sole guardian of the children and therefore it’s an imperative need to raise them in Godly environment.
Parents need to be actively involved in identifying their bullying behavioral attitude and must immediately redress the issue to school authority so that those particular students can be placed on observations.
Sometimes students and parents need to collaborate in identifying the students involve in bullying and subsequently engage them in correctional centers with parental guidance in order to develop positive behavior.
Senior and older students of the school can also serve as mentors and inform younger students to be aware and vigilant by giving awareness on how they should avoid such students from encountering them.
In order to identify the children being bullied who are not vocal about it should try to identify them through ripped clothes, hesitation about going to school, bad nightmares, general depression and anxiety.
If discovered then have open conversations where you can learn what is really going on at school so that you can take appropriate steps to rectify the situation. Mostly, practice scenarios at home where child learns how to ignore bully assertive strategies for coping with bullying. Help your child identify teachers and friends that can help them if they are worried about being bullied.
Educate the children about cyberbullying. Encourage them not to counter by any hurtful messages to others. Let the children also learn about laws that bullying others can have legal consequences. It is also important for the students to report any bullying incidents to a parent without fear. Often children don’t report to their parents for fear of greater consequences or repercussion from the bullying person.
In conclusion, students who experience bullying may feel overwhelmed, depressed or anxious.
If the student is having trouble at school or with friends as a result of bullying, immediately consult a mental health professional such as a psychologist who can really help the child develop resilience and confidence thus enabling the children to be more successful both socially and academically.
Yarangchang Imchen
Lower Chandmari, Kohima
Tuesday, July 1, 2025