ABSTRACT
The majority of pupils in the school may not be directly involved in bullying behaviour themselves, but they are likely to know that it is happening, and some may take an indirect role that colludes with or encourages the bullying. These bystanders may do nothing because they are afraid, uncomfortable or because they do not know what they should do. Schools will not want to encourage pupils to take on the role of vigilantes who ‘stop bullying’, but they can motivate peer pressure so that pupils take an active stand against bullying behaviour, and become ‘defenders’. Pupils can be encouraged to challenge bullying by:
• not allowing someone to be deliberately left out of a group; • not smiling or laughing when someone is being bullied; • telling a member of staff what is happening; • encouraging the bullied pupil to join in with their activities or
groups; • telling the bullying pupil to stop what he or she is doing; • showing the bullying pupil that they disapprove of his or her
actions.
