Bullying Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Bullying - Essay Example Bullying is still widely prevalent across many schools in the US according to recent statistics. This form of behavior has a negative impact on those who are being victimized and also promotes aggressive and violent behavior among those who take on the role of a bully. Bullying can have several physical, social, emotional and psychological consequences on those who are being victimized (Bullying Overview, 2014). Bullying which was thought to have originated in Scandinavia is now widespread in many countries around the world including the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom (Olweus, 2001). In the United States, several policies and laws are being implemented in schools across the country to prevent and protect children from the effects of bullying (Analysis of State Bullying Laws and Policies, 2011). School authorities play a major role in implementing and coordinating the various anti-bullying policies and laws along with the support of teachers, parents an d support staff such as practicing school psychologists. The main objectives of the anti-bullying policies in schools involve establishment of a school mission statement, code of conduct and a student bill of rights. Any updates on the policies need to be incorporated in the school rules and passed on to the staff, students and parents. These policies provide a means of early intervention in preventing bullying and they do not propose any kind of harsh punishments to those who involve in bullying their peers. Instead it recommends using a restorative justice approach in correcting the behavior of the perpetrators and offers suitable counseling to them as well as to those who have been victimized (Bullying, n.d; Sherer & Nickerson, 2010) 5. Analysis of these policies has revealed that they have been effective in reducing the rate of bullying in schools (Effective Evidence -based Practices, n.d). Bullying, which is defined as repeated exposure to