Education, particularly in recent years, has become a hot button and contentious topic. However, there are two things most parents seem to agree on: every child should have consistent peace of mind during the learning process, and every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Despite our best collective efforts, there are still things outside of students’ control that impact their ability to learn. Bullying can be one of them.
A climate of bullying creates distractions which can have a traumatic effect on a student’s ability to succeed. No child should have to worry about whether they will pass a class because of their anxieties about social dynamics outside of the classroom.
Luckily, there’s one solution that helps provide students with a safe space to express themselves as they learn and meet like-minded peers. Online learning providers across the country provide tuition free learning options for students of all grade levels and academic needs. The K12-powered model, for example, is committed to ensuring the safety of every student, befitting them with an environment to explore their intellectual curiosities and meet academic success. That’s why K12 has partnered with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, providing specialized toolkits and resources to students, teachers, school leaders, and school districts to outline critical ways to recognize and respond to bullying.
It’s important to ensure that students maintain positive perceptions of themselves, and the classroom is an essential contributing factor to their academic success. Yet a healthy mental state is often one of the most difficult things to detect in a student — especially as they approach adolescence and become more protective of their identity.
Here are some ways you can help prevent bullying and help your child build positive habits:
- Establish a zero-tolerance bullying policy in your home.
- Help your child understand how their language and behavior has an impact on others.
- Plan family activities and events that foster self-esteem, compassion, kindness, and empathy.
- Encourage your child to focus on their strengths and those of others.
- Encourage your child to make friends with students who have similar interests and passions.
- Ask questions … a lot of questions if you suspect your child is a target of bullying or is a bully.
- Immediately speak to your child’s teacher(s) if you suspect a bullying situation.
No student should ever be worried about going to school or logging into class because they’re afraid of being bullied. Together, we can work to ensure that every student feels safe and respected—no matter who they are or where they come from.
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