1. Essay on bullying: should it be addressed by schools or by parents
by Ms. Jorita F. Nalinga
English 8, M.S.H.E.
“To educate a person in the mind but not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”
-Theodore Roosevelt-
Bullying is defined as unwanted, aggressive conduct among school-aged children that involves a
real or perceived power imbalance, threat or injury. The behavior is also repeated or has the
potential to be repeated over time (Barbati, 2013). Bullying is also defined as aggressive
behaviour toward peers (Roland & Galloway, 2002). Children who were victims of bullying often
suffer from repeated trauma. They become timid and exhibit an inferiority complex which can
aggravate to the extent that it may affect their future, in the academe or in their social circles,
or could lead to death by suicide. It is a serious issue in our society that needs to be addressed
immediately. But should we solely rely on schools or should parents handle this concern all by
themselves?
Schools and parents should work together to tackle the issue. They have to be keen on this
issue since they handle the formative development of children. Most cases of bullying starts
inside the school and within the campus. There are also incidents of bullying in public places
such as parks and recreation centers where children socialize with each other. In this digital
age, the topic moves across physical boundaries and even permeates social networking sites
thru the internet such as Facebook and Twitter. Parents, school officials, even local authorities
and the government should come up with programs to deal with this predicament.
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s Building Respectful and Safe
Schools identified four types of bullying. These include physical, verbal, covert and
cyberbullying. Physical bullying includes hitting, kicking, tripping, pinching and pushing or
damaging property. Verbal bullying includes name calling, insults, teasing, intimidation,
homophobic or racist remarks, or verbal abuse. Covert bullying is often harder to recognize and
can be carried out behind the bullied person's back. It is designed to harm someone's social

2. reputation and/or cause humiliation. Covert bullying includes: lying and spreading rumors,
negative facial or physical gestures, menacing or contemptuous looks, playing nasty jokes to
embarrass and humiliate, mimicking unkindly, encouraging others to socially exclude someone
and damaging someone's social reputation or social acceptance. Cyberbullying is overt or
covert bullying behaviors using digital technologies. Examples include harassment via a mobile
phone, setting up a defamatory personal website or deliberately excluding someone from social
networking spaces. Cyberbullying can happen at any time. It can be in public or in private and
sometimes only known to the target and the person bullying.
In the Philippines, these types of bullying have been experienced by children of different ages-
elementary pupils, high school and even college students. At a young age, children may
experience simple teasing and taunting from classmates and peers. This could escalate to
isolation, trauma and depression which led Millie, a college student, to end her life. Some
institutions have started interventions to eliminate or minimize bullying. The Educational Equity
Center (EEC) at the Academy for Educational Development (AED) in the US developed “Quit it!”
This is a program that promotes respect and civility among students in the early grades,
provides teachers with strategies and guidelines on dealing with teasing and bullying in the
classroom and in school. The program helps guide teachers and school administrators to
formulate their own bully-busting policies. On September 2013 President Aquino signed into
law Republic Act (RA) 10627, also known as the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 which complements
the Department of Education’s (DepEd) existing “Child Protection Policy.” RA 10627 requires all
elementary and secondary schools to adopt policies to prevent and address bullying in their
institutions.
Recently, Duke University professors Copeland, Wolke, Angold, and Costello revealed that
those who have experienced being bullied as a child have a higher risk of developing mental
health problems like anti-social personality disorder, anxiety, depression and panic disorders in
their latter years (Perugini, 2013). Bullies may have been a victim of bullying themselves.
“Unfortunately, there is often very little the school can do as they cannot monitor thousands of
students at the same time, all the time” (Ramos, 2013). In a 24-hour period (on a regular school

3. day), an average pupil or student may be in school for 6-8 hours a day and spend the rest of
their time at home. As the most fundamental of human institutions and being the smallest unit
of society, the family specifically the parents, should actively take part in monitoring their
children’s behaviour when these kids leave the school premises. A child with morally supportive
parents has higher chances of not being bullied or overcoming the effects of bullying. Parents
should be keen regarding their child’s social and academic progress since they are at the
frontline in the fight against this problem. Although I strongly believe that parents cannot
entirely address the matter alone.
Bullying is a social problem thus the society should take part in addressing this growing
concern. Day after day the issue on bullying is getting more and more attention. And if
everyone will do their responsibility well, the parents, school, community, authorities-the
society as a whole, we can provide better and brighter tomorrow for these aspiring future
leaders.
References
Barbati, D. (2013, 12 October). Mountain View Middle School addresses bullying. Retrieved
October 28, 2013 from the World Wide Web: http://www.alamogordonews.com/
alamogordo-news/ci_24299038
Flores, H. (2013, 18 September). Noy signs anti-bullying law. The Phillipine Star.
Flores, H. and Sy, M. (2013, 19 September). Anti-bullying law enacted. The Phillipine Star.
Frey et al (2005). Research on Anti-Bullying Programs. Retrieved October 27, 2013 from the
World Wide Web:
http://bullyingproject.com/research/
Gagatiga, Z. G. (2011 January). Stop the Bullying! Star Teacher Magazine. Guadalupe, Makati
City. Jardin Printing Corporation
Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge Vol 7. (1995), Danburry, Connecticut United States of
America, Academic American Encyclopedia, p 203.

4. Juvonen, J., Nishina, A., &Graham, S. (2001). Self-views versus peer perceptions of victim status
among early adolescents. In J. Juvonen & S. Graham (Eds.), Peer harassment in school:
The plight of the vulnerable and victimized (pp. 105–124). New York: Guilford.
Perugini, C. (2013, 3 June). Childhood bullying linked to adult psychiatric disorders. Retrieved
October 28, 2013 from the World Wide Web:
http://www.stopbullying.gov/blog/2013/05/31/research-brief-childhood-bullying-linked-
adult-psychiatric-disorders
Ramos, S. (2013, 16 June). Bullying can lead to suicide. The Phillipine Star. Lifestyle Feature: Ask
Nanay Section
"Types of Bullying." Types of Bullying-Kids-Bullybusters Mercyside Antibullying Campaign. 20
November 2007. Retrieved October 27, 2013 from the World Wide Web:
http://www.bullybusters.org.uk/kids/types_of_bullying/.