Violence in school. Definition and causes of the phenomenon. The importance of prevention.

Konstantinou Evangelos

Advisory office for young of the Direction of Secondary Education of D’ Athens

Greek

English

Violence, school bullying, victimization

Web Article

Researchers.

1 - 20 pages

This document refers to violence that occurrs in school environment. It starts by presenting what school violence may include, such as a)violence between students (school bullying phenomenon), b) the vandalism incidents targeting school buildings, c) the violence between students and teachers (towards both directions), d) the symbolic violence that school presses to students and teachers, e) the violence that is often created between school and family. It continues by presenting the definition of school bullying “As school bullying or victimization can be defined a situation in which students receive purposely, systematic and repeatable violence and aggressiveness from their co-students inside and outside of school, in order to impose, to embarrass and physical and psychological hurt the victims. It also refers to the forms that school bullying can take (psychological, physical, sexual, economical). Moreover, it presents the school bullying parts/ roles a) the bully, b) the victim and c) the silent observer. Furthermore, it mentions that in order to recognize a negative or aggressive behavior as bullying, the behavior must be repeatable and there must be also imbalanced power between the bully and the victim. In the article are also presented the causes of bullying, which are a) family factors, b) adolescence as a stage of personality development and integration, c) the lack of awareness – sensitization and the ignorance of adults in the students environment, d) the great importance that is given to school success from teachers and parents and e) the lack of participation in in-school and out of school activities that help in stress relief.

This article was created by the Advisory Office for the Young in order to inform students and teachers regarding the school bullying phenomenon. It is a short article that includes the most important aspects of school bullying, like the definition, the kinds of bullying, the involved parts, the causes and ways to handle the phenomenon.
It was chosen because, apart from the above, it also includes information about school bullying that is not easily found in other relevant documents.
The phenomenon of in-school violence is complicated. Personal and environmental aspects contribute and interact for its appearance. More specifically, what is very important and may contribute to the appearance of bullying is the students’ personal characteristics, as well as the characteristics of the family, the school, the educational system, the attitudes of the students themselves, their parents and teachers towards violence, the way that Media demonstrates violence, as well as various problems that enforce anti-social behaviors.
What is important in prevention is the sensitization regarding incidents that may imply that there is a danger of school bullying appearance. Last but not least, the adult of the students’ environment (parent, teacher) seems to be the most effective aspect of school bullying prevention. His involvement may have positive results, if the adult is informed, has the ability and the experience in conflicts’ confrontation and is in position to a) distinguish when the involved parts can handle the incident by themselves and when there is a real problem for which his involvement is expected, b) use, each time, the appropriate ways of prevention.

http://www.ssneond.sch.gr/keimena%20se%20word/via/4%20konstabtinou-prolipsi%20sxolikis%20vias.doc

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