NCJ Number
210629
Journal
Acta Criminologica Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: 2005 Pages: 44-55
Date Published
2005
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study examined Free State (South Africa) students’ and educators’ perceptions of bullying.
Abstract
Bullying is a pervasive problem in South Africa, yet previous research and personal accounts suggest that teachers in South Africa are less than empathic about the problem. The goal of the current research was to add insights into educators’ perceptions of bullying, as well as to explore how children view bullying and their adult interactions following bullying incidents. Data were drawn from 2 studies in which educators (N=326) and students (N=339) from a random sample of 60 schools across South Africa completed questionnaires regarding their perceptions and experiences of bullying. Results of statistical analyses revealed that 4 percent of educators and 16 percent of students reported that bullying was “not at all a problem” in their schools. While over 80 percent of educators responded that they would intervene if they observed a student being verbally or physically bullied, only 19 percent of students who were bullied reported that they were helped by an educator or other adult from their schools. This difference may be explained by the fact that most bullying occurs beyond the supervision of educators. Overall, the findings reflect a lack of student confidence in educator’s ability to satisfactorily resolve bullying problems. The author underscores the importance of educator anti-bullying training in an effort to create a school environment characterized by safety and sincere interest in student affairs. Tables, bibliography