School Bullying

To effectively cope with school bullying it is essential to understand the issues underpinning student peer group dynamics in the school, classroom and community and this view lies at the heart of the text. While the experience of bullying others or being victimized is identified with an individual or group the solution lies with the systems eg community, school, classroom or family of which the individual is part. Particular emphasis is given to the role of prosocial behavior and a strengths based perspective in addressing how students cope with school bullying within a systemic context.

The text is strongly informed by the author’s experience in developing and conducting national and international school-based anti-bullying and mental health interventions. The book advocates a systems based approach to addressing school bullying as illustrated with a program developed and evaluated by the author called the ‘P.E.A.C.E. Pack: A program for reducing bullying in schools’. This book translates research into practice with a strong evidence-based application drawing on an extensive data base. Each chapter contains practical information and research on school/classroom/community applications, trends and issues in the field and practical ideas for implementing anti-bullying measures.

The first two sections consider ways to promote positive peer relations in schools and the dynamics of peer groups. Consideration is then given to cyber bullying and to theories explaining violence, aggression and bullying. Later sections examine the nature and effects of bullying, from early childhood through to adolescence on vulnerable groups, including students with special educational needs and disabilities and LGBTQ young people. The book details information for schools and teachers on ways to collect data and information to inform the interventions and policies of their school. School and classroom based resources for teachers, counsellors and administrators are identified.

With school bullying now a matter of international concern not only to children, young people and their caregivers, but to schools and teachers at the forefront, this book will be important reading for all students in psychology, education, health and social welfare, as well as school administrators, teachers, counsellors and childcare professionals.