1You talk to your child about the definition of bullying, the value of diversity and the importance of respecting differences, and everybody’s rights and being inclusive of all students. You enable your child to see and understand their responsibility in causing the bullying. You discuss with your child ways of repairing the harm and hurt they have caused for the targeted students.
You have communicated clearly and respectfully with your child about your values and your expectations of them.
Your child may have ideas about how to repair this situation and how to be accountable for the exclusion in which they have participated. This is an opportunity to support them in coming up with those ideas.
While you are supporting your child in reflecting upon their attitudes and values, and in taking action to repair the damage they have caused, the other students who witnessed or supported the bullying have not had the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. Furthermore, the school culture that is supporting these beliefs and attitudes goes unchallenged.
2You talk to the teachers in your child’s grade level about your concerns and encourage them to find strategies to ensure the safety and inclusion of all of the students in your child's grade.
You are advocating for a whole class approach to this situation. Including your child’s teacher (and all teachers in your child’s grade level) can help to ensure that the other students involved are part of this process.
Your child may have ideas about how to address this situation and how to be accountable for the exclusion in which they have participated. This is an opportunity to support them in coming up with those ideas.
There may be a school-wide issue here, in that the school culture may be unintentionally supporting racist attitudes and bullying behaviour. Find out what the school’s bullying prevention plan is and explore how it is being upheld.
3You invite the teacher to accompany you when you approach the principal to discuss your concerns and to explore the possibility of developing a whole school bullying prevention plan. The plan would encompass intervention with the two targeted Aboriginal students in your child's grade, students who were witnesses, and those who initiated or supported the bullying, as well as ways of creating a more welcoming school environment for these students (and everyone).
You have taken an important step toward stopping bullying, as well as racism (and other forms of discrimination) among students, and preventing future problems of this kind. The school has a responsibility to involve all members of the school community in collectively creating and implementing strategies that promote equity and inclusion, while addressing all forms of discrimination and violence, inluding bullying.
Your child may have ideas about how to address this situation and how to be accountable for the exclusion in which they have participated. This is an opportunity to support them in coming up with those ideas.
It is necessary to ensure attitudinal change through training, and systemic support through clear and consistent policies and procedures, as well as other innovative measures to bring about real change in the school’s culture. Such change can ensure that incidents of bullying and racism are stopped, and future incidents are prevented.
✓Explanation of the recommended response.
Key Concept: Educators and families all benefit from receiving training and resources that support taking a systemic approach with clear and consistent policies and procedures; engaging all members of the school community in helping transform a school’s culture is key.
Recommended Response and Explanation: All three responses have value but are incomplete on their own. Several parties are not involved in resolving this issue, for example: the witnesses, the other student(s) who bullied or supported the bullying and their parents. Ideally, we are able to engage our children in the process of change while advocating for a meaningful response for all parties involved in the bullying situation, and from all members of the school community. Significant and lasting change occurs when systemic approaches are taken by the school to address all forms of bullying, including exclusion and inequity, such as racism, homophobia and sexism. As parents and guardians, we can advocate for and support this approach from schools.
Go to the About This Course page to learn what each of the faces represents. Please read the scenario below and click on the response that seems most appropriate. Note that there is no perfect answer provided, and each response offers feedback and a learning opportunity.
Please see COPA’s recommended response.