In recent years, incidents of campus bullying have occurred frequently, and its attributes have been transformed from campus accidents into social problems.
Bullying in school is no small matter. Behind any incident of bullying, the healthy growth of two or a group of children is implicated.
In order to curb school bullying incidents, the party and the country attach great importance to bullying governance: In 2016, 9 departments including the Ministry of Education issued the "Guiding Opinions on Preventing and Preventing Bullying and Violence among Primary and Secondary School Students"; in 2017, 11 departments including the Ministry of Education jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions" "Strengthening the Comprehensive Management Plan for Primary and Secondary School Students’ Bullying", proposed to establish a long-term mechanism to prevent and prevent primary and secondary school students’ bullying, and work together to build the sunniest and safest campus. The series of measures have achieved certain results, but they are still "press the gourd and float"; in 2021, The Ministry of Education issued the "Special Action Plan for Preventing Bullying of Primary and Secondary School Students", proposing that all localities should eliminate dead ends to prevent school bullying; during the National Two Sessions this year, many representatives continued to pay attention to bullying issues, making it once again a hot spot in education.
In order to fully understand the current situation of campus bullying, from 2019 to 2020, the Central China Normal University Educational Governance Modernization Task Force (hereinafter referred to as the "research group") will conduct field investigations in six provinces including Shandong, Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei, Guangxi, and Sichuan. A sample survey of primary and secondary schools in provincial capitals, prefecture-level cities, and county-level cities was conducted. The sample included more than 10,000 students from more than 130 primary and secondary schools in the eastern, central and western regions. The questionnaire included a special survey on campus bullying.
What is the status of bullying in schools
School bullying refers to the victim's intentional, repeated, and continuous negative behavior by one or more students, causing physical and psychological harm or discomfort to the victim.
It is a special offensive behavior that often occurs between elementary and middle school students, which can be divided into forms such as relationship bullying, verbal bullying, physical bullying, and cyber bullying.
The research team’s survey data in six provinces across the country showed that the incidence of campus bullying was 32.4%.
Compared with previous surveys conducted by other subjects, the subject believes that in recent years the incidence of school bullying has generally shown a downward trend, but the incidence is still relatively high.
Compared with the 2017 survey report of the Campus Safety Professional Committee of the Chinese Society of Emergency Management, the research team believes that the incidence of various forms of bullying has been reduced: the incidence of relationship bullying is 10.5%, the incidence of language bullying is 17.4%, and the incidence of physical bullying is 17.4%. The incidence rate was 12.7%, and the incidence rate of cyberbullying was 6.8%.
At the same time, the research team's survey results show that the "brying of the weak" characteristics of campus bullying are becoming more and more obvious, and parents have a significant influence on the incidence of bullying.
In terms of individual characteristics of students, the incidence of bullying among migrant children is similar to that of ordinary children, but the probability of being bullied by left-behind children is significantly higher than that of ordinary children.
According to the analysis of the research team, left-behind children lack the daily care of their parents and are often in a disadvantaged position in school and are vulnerable to bullying.
Due to the vigorous energy of boys in their adolescence, the phenomenon of "gang formation" often exists. Boys have a significantly higher incidence of bullying than girls, and adolescents with good health and good grades are less likely to be bullied.
In the family characteristics of students, the probability of being bullied is significantly higher for children of divorced or remarried parents, while the probability of being bullied is relatively lower for children of widowed families.
According to the research team’s analysis, the reason behind most divorced or remarried families is the emotional breakdown of their parents, their children often lack one’s care, and their parents have relatively little support, so they are more likely to be bullied, and the public tends to treat the children of widowed families with “compassion” and “care”. "Waiting for the state of mind, so the probability of being bullied is lower.
In addition, the higher the parents’ educational background and the better the family’s economic conditions, the lower the probability of their children being bullied.
Generally speaking, in campus bullying incidents, disadvantaged groups have become more vulnerable to bullying, which has a serious impact on their physical and mental development.
Four major dilemmas in cracking campus bullying
School bullying not only has a serious impact on the physical health of students, but also causes numerous obstacles to students' mental health and integrity of personality, and brings permanent damage to children's spiritual growth.
What are the difficulties behind the cracking of campus bullying?
(1) "Empty" as defined by law
The law is a weapon to protect the basic rights and interests of citizens, and it is also the fundamental basis for administering schools in accordance with the law.
At present, there are three main laws for the protection of young people in China: the "Minor Protection Law", the "Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency Law" and the "Compulsory Education Law", but none of them clearly defines campus bullying.
A representative of the National People’s Congress once said that the current frequent occurrence of school bullying incidents is mainly due to the lack of legislation. It is precisely because the current relevant laws do not clearly define the issue of school bullying and the lack of relevant prevention and punishment mechanisms, which ultimately leads to Group fights, insults, threats and other forms of campus bullying incidents are frequently staged on campus.
According to the analysis of the research team, this is because the law has yet to be perfected, but on the other hand, it is difficult to monitor and define campus bullying.
Teenagers are lively and active, and they often have subtle conflicts with their peers. Such conflicts can only be transformed into bullying after the corresponding characteristics are generated. Since there are no special approved standards, a considerable number of schools just treat bullying as ordinary conflicts. In addition, language bullying occurs most frequently in bullying behaviors, which is not only difficult to define, but also difficult to monitor.
This year, the Ministry of Education responded to the campus bullying proposal on its official website, stating that a mechanism for preventing and controlling campus bullying will be established at the legal level, and the content of student bullying prevention and control has been included in the draft revision of the relevant bill.
(2) The "thinness" of the legal concept
Another reason for the frequent occurrence of campus bullying and the difficulty in deciphering the strange phenomenon is the weak concept of the legal system among students.
According to the research team’s analysis, bullying mostly occurs in adolescents aged 10-16. Due to the characteristics of the gradual development of underage students, their mental and physical development are usually temporarily out of balance, resulting in insufficient mental maturity. To dominate and control its physical behavior.
Therefore, they often appear uncomfortable, impulsive, and explosive.
At this stage, students tend to focus on classroom learning, and there is a serious shortage of legal education: on the one hand, the bully does not know that his behavior will constitute bullying, or he knows his heart but disagrees, thinking that he is just a student, and the most remarkable punishment is not to study. That's it.
Often in their hearts, the "bullying cost" is so small that it can be ignored, but they do not know that they are already touching the red line of the law.
On the other hand, people who are bullied usually don’t know what to do when they are being bullied. In addition, the bully often threatens not to tell teachers or parents. Out of inner fear and weak legal consciousness, the more they dare not speak, the more they are caught. The "bullying trap" that is easy to be bullied.
According to the survey data of the research group, the probability that students who choose to "hide in the heart" after being bullied is often bullied is 45.2%, while those who choose to "tell their parents" only account for 11.7%, and those who choose to "tell the teacher" only account for 45.2%. 14.3%.
(3) The "difficulty" of teacher discipline
Different from other bullying incidents, most of the subjects of campus bullying are minors under the age of fourteen, which fall within the protection scope of the Law on the Protection of Minors and the Law on the Prevention of Juvenile Crimes, and there are “difficulties in defining and obtaining evidence”. It is difficult to deal with the problem of "difficulties, difficult to deal with", it is difficult to carry out criminal or administrative punishments, and can only be admonished in accordance with the law.
In the face of bullying incidents, schools are in a "sandwich" position between government departments and parents, and are under pressure from two aspects at the same time.
Due to the lack of education and discipline power, the lack of legal counsel and full-time psychological teachers, schools have limited governance powers for bullying.
On the one hand, some teachers do not report campus bullying incidents in time due to class unity, work performance or school reputation considerations, resulting in further deterioration of campus bullying.
On the other hand, because the handling of bullying incidents lacks legal basis, a little carelessness will cause "disciplinary abuse", and teachers cannot beat students. If the teacher beats the perpetrator student, then his parents will think that the teacher is abusing his power and become a school. When encountering such incidents, there is no standard of punishment, and I don’t know how to deal with it, and then I fall into the difficulty of punishment-although the "Primary and Elementary Education Disciplinary Rules (Trial)" stipulates that bullying should be severely punished and teachers are given a certain amount of punishment Punishment power, but the specific definition and punishment of bullying still needs to be improved.
(4) The "lack" of out-of-school education
The survey data of the research group shows that campus bullying is mostly related to the specific conditions of the native family. Family intervention can significantly reduce the occurrence of campus bullying, but in fact, family education on campus bullying is seriously lacking.
Parents of students are often busy with work, and most of their concern for their children rests on academic performance.
On the other hand, parents usually tell their children to "don't be bullied" at school, but few parents warn their children to "don't bully others", and often only after their children have been bullied by others, parents pay attention to bullying education for their children.
In addition, although campus bullying is called "campus", its occurrence is not limited to campuses. The surrounding areas of campus are also high-incidence areas of bullying. However, very few social groups around campus participate in the education and prevention of bullying. There is a serious lack of off-campus education for school bullying.
Four-character tips for bullying governance
(1) Make good use of the word "fine" in the investigation
The Ministry of Education has repeatedly emphasized that all localities should “establish and improve a long-term mechanism for governance of campus bullying.” However, some schools have insufficient experience in handling campus bullying incidents, lack of scientific investigation tools and methods, and insufficient attention, leading to frequent occurrences of campus bullying. .
The basis of campus bullying management is investigation.
The research team suggested that the detailed investigation work can start from the following aspects: First, establish a campus bullying investigation mechanism, and local education administrative departments should urge schools to carry out various self-examination activities, conduct re-examinations based on the school’s self-examination results, and carry out non-examinations. Check regularly.
In the process of investigation, any student who may be bullied should not be missed, and a special investigation report should be formed and published in a timely manner.
Second, improve the campus bullying investigation infrastructure, install monitoring equipment in blind spots throughout the school, and introduce an intelligent monitoring platform. Once suspected bullying is detected, an early warning will be issued and on-site monitoring videos will be retained.
(2) Use the word "strict" well in punishment
The lack of supporting construction in the field of juvenile justice at present has resulted in not many disciplinary measures when student bullying occurs.
There is no transitional disciplinary mechanism between the protection of minors and criminal punishment of minors. Because they are under the age of criminal responsibility, they can often only be dealt with lightly by means of apology by the student concerned and civil compensation by the parents of the student, and the punishment is not strong enough.
School bullying is not strictly punished, which leads to lower costs of bullying and cannot strengthen the bully’s own scruples.
The research team suggested that the principle of "zero tolerance" and timeliness must be established in the handling of campus bullying incidents.
It should be clearly stipulated that schools and teachers must resolve any incidents of campus bullying and cannot be shelved or shirk. Guided by the principle of protecting the legitimate rights and interests of students and the principle of minimum harm, establish an incentive and accountability mechanism for campus bullying management, and stimulate teachers’ efforts in campus bullying management. Initiative.
Teachers are required to record the details of the bullying incident, handling measures and punishment results, and report the investigation and handling of the incident to the higher level.
A combination of assistance and severe punishment should be adopted: For those whose circumstances are minor and have not seriously affected the victims, they should publicly apologize, carefully review and appropriately compensate; schools should be suspended if the circumstances are bad, the methods are cruel, and the consequences are serious. The dismissal shall be recorded in the personal file, and what is more, it must be resolutely punished in accordance with the law.
(3) Use the word "Fa" well in prevention
The concept of “rule of law first” should be established in the prevention of campus bullying. However, the current level of laws on the prevention of campus bullying is relatively low, related responsibilities are not detailed, and the judicial guarantee system is not perfect.
The research team suggested that the existing regulations on school bullying prevention should be integrated and upgraded to special legislation.
In the formulation of the Anti-Bullying Law, it should include the legislative purpose, scope, basic principles, school safety management system, family protection responsibilities and obligations, government and society protection responsibilities and obligations, and teachers' disciplinary powers.
At the same time, the research team suggested that, with reference to foreign experience, establish a guardian accountability system, improve the judicial protection system, establish the guardian’s first priority, and establish a “social labor order” for young people who have not reached the age of criminal responsibility. Work in the community for a period of time, during which reformation education is carried out.
On the other hand, we should vigorously popularize laws and regulations, enhance students' legal awareness, and incorporate legal education courses into the education curriculum plans of primary and secondary schools.
In addition, when formulating policies to prevent school bullying, policy attention to student groups from disadvantaged family backgrounds can be strengthened.
(4) Do not use the word "合" well
The governance of school bullying has a long way to go, and it is not the task of a certain subject to eradicate school bullying. All sectors of society should be connected to create a "bully-free education" so that every child can live in the sun.
The research team suggested that parents need to maintain smooth communication and communication with their children, pay more attention to their children’s daily life at school, not only teach their children how to deal with problems in uncomfortable environments, but also let their children understand that they must be responsible for their own bullying behavior. responsibility.
The newly issued "Family Education Promotion Law" particularly emphasizes the important role of families in paying attention to the mental health of students and preventing school bullying.
Teachers should lead by example to create a fair and respectful teacher-student relationship, uphold the principle of fairness and justice when handling student affairs, and support and guide students to carry out active and healthy peer interaction activities.
Schools should improve the student development support system and provide students with themed activities to prevent bullying.
Social organizations can carry out online assistance for young people, not only to provide problem solutions and psychological trauma healing to the bullied, and strive to reduce the physical and mental harm caused by bullying to students, but also to provide psychological assistance to the bully-research shows that the bully There are often certain emotional deficiencies and psychological barriers, and providing assistance for them is also an important part of reducing the incidence of bullying.
In addition, both the family and the school should actively explore prevention and response mechanisms. The school should play its role as a leader. Through various channels such as parent schools, parent conferences, and the Internet, information and information on the early identification, resolution methods, and post-event interventions of school bullying should be used. Pass it on to parents in time.
Teachers should communicate with parents in time about students’ performance in school, and take the initiative to discuss solutions to school bullying with parents.
Parents need to actively cooperate with teachers to help students resist bullying in school.
Multi-agent connection and common governance, say no to campus bullying!
(Fu Weidong is an associate professor at Central China Normal University, Zhou Wei is a postgraduate student of the school, and Li Wei and Chen Anni are doctoral candidates of the school)