The history of bullying has been long intertwined with the history of education. Bullies have lurked on playgrounds, in the backs of classrooms and on school buses for generations. But with the advancements in technology in recent years, bullying has made way, in part, to cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying may not have physical signs like traditional bullying, but it can be just as painful for a child who is going through it.

If you are hoping to apply for a master of science in school counseling program, you will certainly have to deal with bullying in one way or another. Whether you take part in the anti-bullying movement on a national or state scale or have to deal with protecting bullied children in your own district.

Studying up on the latest anti-bullying tactics and discussing them with your instructors and classmates can spark an important discussion. Here are a few of the latest breakthroughs to combat bullying.

At the Local Level

Each school district must decide on its own how to deal with bullying. In Tijeras, New Mexico, Roosevelt Middle School is currently planning on starting an anti-bullying campaign called BRAVE, which stands for “Bring a Voice of Encouragement.” The movement is student-created and student-led and encourages students to speak up when they are witnesses to bullying in and outside of the classroom. Students will sign a pledge to make their voices heard and do their best to stop bullying cruelty.

It’s not enough to teach children to speak out about bullying, however, without adults leading a good example. In Washington, a local artist is working on a large mural to speak out against bullying at Canyon View Elementary School. The artist, Lindsey Fischer, was bullied as a child and was happy to contribute to the project when the district approached her about it. The mural includes a wheel chart that teaches children healthy conflict resolution skills.

In Iowa, Council Bluffs Community School District is incorporating their anti-bullying program into their curriculum. The Olweus bullying prevention program involves weekly classes where students can discuss their bullying stories, learn tactics for prevention and encourage one another to be vocal when they see someone being bullied.

In your studies for your master of science in school counseling program, you will learn how to work with your district and community to lower bullying rates.

At the State Level

Bullying has become such a hot topic that legislation is being put into place to help counter it. On Monday, April 6, Idaho governor C.L. “Butch” Otter signed anti-bullying legislation into law.

According to the Idaho State Journal, “House Bill 246 includes provisions for intervention by educators in Idaho schools in cases when students are being bullied and for making students aware of anti-bullying policies.”

The article went on to note that Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise,”... said that in Idaho, ‘1 in 10 students are dropping out or changing schools because of bullying.’”

Iowa is also currently pushing legislation to give districts more power to deal with bullying.

At the National Level

There are many national programs and campaigns that speak out about bullying, including StompOutBullying.org and StopBullying.gov. October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and every school across the nation is encouraged to do their part in spreading awareness and preventing bullying in their district.

Have questions about applying for a master of science in school counseling program? Contact one of our admissions counselors to discuss your options!

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