Bullying and Cyberbullying: What Every Educator Needs to Know

Defining bullying and cyber bullying on paper isn't difficult, but identifying and responding to them in real life can be very challenging.  When a child is targeted by social cruelty, how can an adult tell if it's a single act of meanness, or part of an ongoing bullying attack?  If a student posts a humiliating photo, did they intend for it to be seen widely?  How can adults gauge the impact of cruelty on children, if they don't tell us?  How can we educate children about communicating in digital environments, if we can't know every single app or website they use? This book focuses on the nuts-and-bolts of bullying and cyber bullying prevention. Some steps can be taken by both parents and educators. For example, all adults can learn to identify and respond to gateway behaviors that enable bullying. There are also observable clues that can help us determine when we need to support and coach children through social problems, and when we need to directly intervene. Similarly, although adults often believe they must be familiar with every individual app or website, cyber-research has actually identified a handful of common mistakes and misunderstandings that occur in almost all digital environments; discussing these can help children avoid most of the worst problems on any website or app. Parents can read about how to leverage their unique role in addressing social problems when they arise; likewise, school settings represent an important opportunity for educators to introduce and reinforce positive social behaviors and to educate children about the use of digital communications so as to maximize skills and minimize cyber bullying.  

“Bullying is a term that’s being, well, bullied. It’s been rendered essentially powerless by being constantly kicked around,” writes nationally recognized bullying expert Elizabeth Kandel Englander. In this practical and insightful book, Englander dispels pervasive myths and misconceptions about peer cruelty, bullying, and cyberbullying. Drawing on her own and others’ research, she shows how educators can flag problematic behaviors and frame effective responses. Englander puts a special focus on “gateway” behaviors—those subtle actions that, unchecked, can quickly escalate into more serious misbehavior—and explores how students perceive their own and their peers’ behavior.

Written in an accessible, conversational tone and informed by careful research, this timely book is an essential guide for educators. Key takeaways include the impact of technology on social behavior, a framework for responding effectively to bullies—including innovative ideas about the role of social peers—and suggestions for working with parents.

“Elizabeth Englander has written an essential book about bullying that every educator—and any parent thinking about how schools should handle this issue—should read. It’s full of wisdom, practical advice, and original research, all of which reflect Englander’s status as one of the foremost experts in the field.” — Emily Bazelon, author of Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy

“This much-needed book presents effective ideas and techniques based on the experiences of real children and teens. I recommend it highly.” — Stan Davis, author of Schools Where Everyone Belongs, and codirector, Youth Voice Project

“Dr. Englander has effectively combined insight derived from research with her experiences working directly with schools to produce a book that provides a quality resource for educational leaders and policy makers. This book is a welcome contribution to the field.” — Nancy Willard, director, Embrace Civility in the Digital Age

Elizabeth Kandel Englander is a professor of psychology and the founder and director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University, which delivers anti-violence and anti-bullying programs, resources, and research for the state of Massachusetts.

Elizabeth Kandel Englander is a professor of psychology and the founder and director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University, which delivers anti-violence and anti-bullying programs, resources, and research for the state of Massachusetts.