Bullying and cyber bullying impacts our community. This problem has become more prominent in our schools over the last couple of years. As the Internet has become more prominent, there has also been an ever-increasing shift from physical bullying to cyberbullying. Research shows that 88% of teens who use social media have occasionally observed cruel and mean responses via social networks. Out of this group 15% indicated that they had personally experienced cyber bullying during the previous 12 months while 32% of the learners indicated that they were occasionally beaten by another learner on the way to school, or at school. In the literature there are also several examples of children who have already taken their own lives because of harassment and bullying, whether physical or via the Internet. The focus of this course will be on the following aspects:
– Actuality in South Africa
– Statistics and scope
– Motives and contributory reasons for bullying
– Characteristics of a typical target
– Characteristics of a typical bully
– If my child is the bully
– Proposed model for every school
– Practical and pastoral guidelines
The structure of this course is the following:
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTORY PERSPECTIVES
- Historical introduction
- A shift to cyber bullying
- The contributing role of ‘anonymity’ on the Internet
- Actuality within South-Africa
- The initiative of Prince William
- Statistics and extent
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- Cyber bullying already begins at an earlier stage
- The first ‘cyber cop’
CHAPTER 2 – DEFINITION AND MOTIVATION
- Definition
- Bullying in general
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- Cyber bullying
- Cyberstalking
- Internet ‘troll’
- Motifs and reasons that lead to bullying
- The parallel between online bullying and physical bullying
CHAPTER 3 – TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A VICTIM
- The characteristics of a typical target
- Reasons why they are vulnerable
- Characteristics and symptoms of a child that is being bullied
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- The impact and consequences of bullying
- Bullying affects the whole family
CHAPTER 4 – CHARACTERISTICS OF A TYPICAL BULLY
- Characteristics and indications of bullies
- The modus operandi of a bully
- The supporters of a bully
- Consequences with regards to bystanders and spectators
- When your child is the bully
- Discussion with your child
- Empathy must be developed
CHAPTER 5 – PRACTICAL GUIDELINES
- Parents should not be naïve
- Guidelines by the National Crime Prevention Council
- Mobilisation of bystanders and establishing a Code of conduct
- Guidelines for when your child is being bullied
- The importance of a structured anti-bullying programme at schools
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- The model of Olweus
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- The Bullying Prevention Co-ordinating Committee (BPCC)
- Equipment and training
- Using questionnaires
- Staff discussion groups
- School rules
- Classroom events
- Direct intervention and follow-up actions
- Parental involvement
- Adult/child interaction
- Involvement of experts
- Further characteristics and sub-objectives of the Olweus programme
- Results
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- What can your child learn from a negative situation?
CHAPTER 6 – PASTORAL GUIDELINES
- The child’s identity in Christ
- Poor discipline and a lack of boundaries
- Children should be taught what is acceptable and what is unacceptable
- Equipping and schooling of young people
- Treat others in the same way that you want to be treated
- How Jesus Christ dealt with bullies
- The situation in the temple
- Jesus defends Maria
- Jesus speaks up for Malchus
- Summary
- There is hope
ANNEXURE A – Family’s Internet Safety Contract
ANNEXURE B – The Olweus bullying questionnaire
ANNEXURE C – Bullying questionnaires
ANNEXURE D – Important web pages and contact information
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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