Bullying in schools: Where are the adult role models?

When bullying occurs, it is tempting to see the children involved as either “bullies” or “victims”. There’s no in-between, and we easily fall into the trap of demanding justice for the “victim” and insisting on punishment for the “bully”.

These labels feel intuitive and satisfying – they help us channel outrage. After all, bullying evokes deep emotions shaped by our own personal experience – and the fear among parents that the same thing could happen to our children. I can still recall how powerless I felt when I was bullied in kindergarten by a classmate, who would often ignore my calls for her to shift her chair just so I could walk out and use the bathroom.