Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF EDUCATION
in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education of the
UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND, 2007. / This study investigated educators' perception of bullying in schools.
Literature on bullying, were reviewed.
The sample consisted of 200 educators. The descriptive method of
research was used to collect data with regard to educators' perceptions of
bullying. An empirical survey comprising a structured questionnaire was
completed by educators in the Umbumbulu Circuit of the Umlazi District
in the Ethekwini Region of Kwazulu Natal.
The data that was collected reflected the perceptions of the target group
of educators:
~ Bullying should not be tolerated at school.
~ Respect for human dignity should prevail among all learners at
school.
~ The school should be a place that promotes a safe environment.
~ Every learner's unique personality and value should be respected.
~ Support programmes should be provided for learners that bully
and victims of bullying.
~ A Provincial bullying policy will ensure uniform address on this
escalating violence in schools.
The research revealed that bullying can occur in any group of learners
whatever age or size of the members and that about two thirds of the
learners have been/are bullied during their schooling years.
There are many forms of bullying. The spectrum varies from relatively
harmless teasing and extends to serious assault or harassment. Verbal
and psychological bullying can be just as harmful and hurtful as
physical violence. Sexual and racial harassment are particularly serious
forms of bullying.
It becomes clear from the research that there is no simple solution to
bullying. It is a complex and variable problem so each school must
develop its own policy. Of course this would be easier if there was a
national climate of concern similar to that in Norway. Bullying has been ignored for too long. Individuals are powerless before
its insidiousness but schools can adopt collective remedies which will not
only help the victims but also strengthen the relationship between
parents, educators and learners. The perceptions of educators' cast an illuminating light on an appalling
problem that is prevalent at schools.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uzulu/oai:uzspace.unizulu.ac.za:10530/703 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Maharaj, Nidira |
| Contributors | Vermeulen, H., Urbani, G. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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