Article by Zica Cristian volunteer within GIL Sector 1.
School bullying is repetitive and negative behavior of intimidation, aggression or humiliation that occurs in an educational context between students or groups of students. This type of behavior can include physical, verbal or social actions designed to cause harm, stress or discomfort to the person who is the target of the bullying. School bullying can take place in various places, such as in schools, school buses, during recess or even online (known as “cyberbullying”).
Here are some examples of specific behaviors that can constitute school bullying:
- Physical Bullying: Direct physical aggression, such as hitting, pushing, spitting, or destroying another person’s personal property.
- Verbal Bullying: Insults, offensive nicknames, threats, inappropriate jokes or humiliating comments directed at someone.
- Social Bullying: Intentionally isolating or ignoring a person, excluding them from groups or activities.
- Psychological or Emotional Bullying: Emotional manipulation, spreading false rumors or spreading private information to hurt or humiliate someone.
5, Cyberbullying: Using technology and online platforms to harass, humiliate or intimidate someone. This may involve sending offensive messages, threats or broadcasting offensive content on social networks, forums or through other digital channels.
School bullying can have serious effects on the mental and emotional health of victims, causing stress, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. It can also lead to school performance problems, absenteeism and even suicidal thoughts. Therefore, the prevention and management of school bullying is particularly important, involving efforts by schools, teachers, parents and the wider community to create a safe and healthy environment for all students.
Romania is one of the European countries with the highest level of systematic bullying, i.e. harassment of children at school. 12% of 15-year-old students declared that they are very frequent victims of bullying, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD, data from 2018), and including recently a case that appeared in Sector 1 became popular after a school in Bucharest was sued bythe parents to an 11-year-old student, victim in a case of bullying.
The attacked student is in School no. 181 of the first semester of 2019-2020. He came by transfer from School no. 80, when the family moved near School No. 181. The conflict with the aggressor student started after he snapped at the other students and no one said anything to him. On December 5, 2019, the two students came into conflict again, at which point a fight broke out right in front of the history teacher in the classroom.
After the incident, the newly transferred student from School no. 80 suffered a broken nose and went to the hospital for treatment. The school principal did not notify the parents or the inspectors. The case was almost covered up.
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