Bullying Interventions in Schools

Outlines the existing methods used to address bullying in school, describing when and how each method can be best applied.

• Addresses the six major methods of bullying intervention
• Critically explores the rationale, strengths, and limitations of each intervention
• Evaluates efficacy and applicability of each intervention for different bullying situations encountered in the school setting

Foreword vii

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction xi

Part 1 Interventions in Perspective 1

1 The Current Situation 3

2 A Brief Background to School Bullying 14

3 Preparing to Intervene 25

Part 2 Methods of Intervention in Cases of Bullying 35

4 The Traditional Disciplinary Approach 37

5 Strengthening the Victim 51

6 Mediation 64

7 Restorative Justice 74

8 The Support Group Method (Formerly the No Blame Approach) 86

9 The Method of Shared Concern 96

Part 3 The Choice of Intervention Method 109

10 The School and the Community 111

11 Choosing a Method 116

12 Backdrop and Beyond 139

Appendices 144

A Handling Bullying Questionnaire with Results 144

B Exercise on Fogging 149

References 151

Index 161

Ken Rigby is an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Australia. He is a leading international researcher in the area of bullying in schools, having published five books on the subject and numerous peer-reviewed journal articles. He has ten years' experience as a school teacher, has been an educational consultant for departments of education and schools, and a speaker at conferences and workshops on school bullying around the world. His wide-ranging experience has enabled him to make many significant contributions to the problem of reducing bullying in schools.

Dealing effectively with the problem of bullying in schools is now recognised as a major challenge for educators of young people. Successful interventions to stop, or even reduce, bullying in schools are difficult to achieve; however, the case for improving the effectiveness of school interventions in cases of bullying is overwhelming.

More attention needs to be paid to what can be done in addressing actual cases of bullying, as well as seeking to create a school environment in which the task may be more manageable. Schools need to be aware of the range of approaches that may be adopted and applied in dealing with individual cases. Bullying Interventions in Schools examines in detail the six major intervention methods: the traditional disciplinary approach; strengthening the victim; mediation; restorative practice; the support group method; and the method of shared concern.

Bullying Interventions in Schools aims to promote an understanding of what methods exist to address actual cases of bullying, and when and how they can best be applied. Each method is described in detail, together with its rationale. In addition, the strengths and limitations of their use are critically examined, drawing upon research-based evidence regarding their efficacy and applicability for different kinds and degrees of bullying encountered in school.