Guidelines

It is important that teachers understand the key concepts of bullying, so that they can distinguish it from other behavioral problems. Bullying is a problem of psycho-social nature that is sustained by two rules: the rule of dominion-submission and the rule of silence. The latter is a rule typical of peer relations, as it is of common thought that things that happen between pupils must be kept among them. In fact, it is not well thought of by peers to inform adults about bullying episodes, and the guy who informs adults is seen by his/her mates as a snitch. Moreover, over the last years a new form of bullying has appeared, due to the use of the ICT and virtual social networks that must be also taken into consideration. Accordingly, before acting against bullying, we must understand:

• The characteristics of the phenomenon
• The roles that are implied
• The rules that facilitate and sustain it
• The direct and indirect forms that it may adopt