Bullying at Boarding School

BULLYING AT BOARDING SCHOOL
INTRODUCTION
At almost every boarding school, especially during secondary school years, bullying had not only targeted
new comers or form one students but affected even seniors.
In their first days at boarding school the new pupils are subjected to various forms of bullying. Those who
start school at any time other than at the regular time for a change of school (often labelled ‘newcomers’) are
particularly picked on. It was when news of the death of a pupil who had been constantly victimized by
another broke that parents, teachers and the ministry at large began paying attention to bullying in
Zimbabwe’s boarding schools.
DEFINING BULLYING
Bullying is redundant, monotonous, and destructive, power based behavior of students. It is an ongoing and
deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behavior that
intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing
their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.
FORMS OF BULLYING
1. Physical bullying
Physical bullying is more than punching or kicking which is a direct form. It can also be in indirect forms
such as taking one’s possessions or damaging property. Although physical bullying is common and easily
identifiable at schools, it has turned out to be slowly fading away in secondary schools. This is because
physical bullying tends to receive more attention from school authorities than other types.
2. Social bullying
This involves psychological harm and manipulation of the social system and usually involves situations
where the one student or a social group might spread rumors, back bite and/or exclude the victim from
the peer group or intimidation within the group. Social bullying is difficult to see from the outside making
it difficult for teachers and authorities to control. However, it could be direct with exclusion, ignoring,
isolating or shunning experienced by the victim student compared to other types of bullying.
Ashley Mabuto
3. Cyber bullying
Cyber bullying means that a student is subjected to text messages, pictures, emails or online posts on
social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, blogs or other websites. These messages are sometimes cruel
in nature, threatening, defamatory (saying things that are not true) and deliberately misleading. This type
of bullying is not yet popular in high schools as we aren’t yet fully using electronic gadgets such as
computers and phones.
4. Psychological bullying
The psychological bully is the one who beats a person up emotionally try to make him or her
uncomfortable, disturbed and destabilized in mind. Intimidating someone, manipulating students and
stalking a person are all examples of psychological bullying. People in popular groups or cliques often
bully people they categorize as different by gossiping about them. School authorities and teachers worry
more about physical bullying and rate psychological bullying, such as being shunned by their classmates,
as less serious and upsetting to the victim.
5. Verbal bullying
Verbal bullying is seen as one of the most common types of bullying used by both boys and girls and
involves name calling, teasing and verbal threats. While the effects of physical bullying may be more
obvious at first, verbal bullying is more insidious and, over long periods of time, works to destroy a child's
self- image and self- esteem.
EFFECTS OF BULLYING
The negative consequences of bullying are extensive. Victims often suffer from depression, anxiety, social
isolation, and low self-esteem, suicide or commit homicidal acts as a result of extreme mental and social
pressures. Individuals bullied in childhood may carry the emotional wounds into adulthood, leading to
depression, social isolation, substance abuse and the inability to react appropriately to unjust situations.
WHAT CAN BE DONE

1. Parents
Oftentimes, bullying isn’t a result of anything your child did or didn’t do, and it says more about the
bully’s home life or personal behavior or current situation. Positive can go a long way to protecting your
child from becoming a target, but can’t always prevent it completely. If your child has a strong circle of
friends, it’s also less likely that they’ll be the victim. So check in with your child often, support their social
development, and stay in the know about their friendships. If and when bullying happens, they’ll be more
likely to turn to you for help.
Ashley Mabuto
2. School
The school authorities must commit to creating and sustaining a positive school environment and even
form team to coordinate bullying prevention efforts. This team will then establish or revise and help
enforce school policies and procedures related to best practices in bullying prevention and intervention.
Intervene immediately, consistently, equitably, and appropriately when bullying behavior occurs and
reported. Notably the education sector has been having some challenges with teachers striking which
gave bullies time to victimize students. I think, if teachers dedicate class time to teaching and keeping
students busy with school work, bullying won’t end but will reduce with a better percentage.
Conclusion
Every child has the right to go to school free from fear. When every school in Zimbabwe and the rest of the
world provide quality, inclusive and safe education for us students, we can learn, build friendships and gain
the critical skills we need to navigate social situations. In the best circumstances, our schools put us students
on the path to a promising future.
Ashley Mabuto

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BULLYING AT BOARDING SCHOOL

WHAT CAN BE DONE

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