Schools have a responsibility to provide safe and healthy learning environments for students so they feel secure while obtaining an education.

However, some schools do not offer a school-wide anti-bullying plan. As a supplemental plan for dealing with bullies, school campuses should: define the term “bully;” design a positive school environment; raise the awareness of the negative effects of bullying; identify interventions for bullying; and implement a school-wide plan.

Bullying generally exists when a student with more social or physical power deliberately harasses another student. It is typically a repeated behavior. Bullies usually target other students who have difficulty defending themselves.

Unfortunately, students who are repeatedly victimized tend to experience more psychological problems than non-bullied peers. However, bullies are more likely than non-bullies to be involved in fights, vandalism, substance abuse or truancy.

There are many reasons why students choose to bully. For example, they might have been bullied themselves; they enjoy watching others suffer; they feel it increases their social status; they have a desire to look tough in front of their peers; they become easily frustrated; they experience aggressive behavior modeled at home; and they often become jealous of their victims.

Bullies often display characteristics associated with feeling dominant and aggressive.

They like to put others under stress, and lack empathy and compassion for those they antagonize. They are known to criticize, blame and show disrespect toward others. Bullies require lots of attention and use charisma to control and influence others.

Victims of bullies are easily distressed and often appear reluctant to attend school.

They tend to have missing possessions, few friends and unexplained bruises. They exhibit low self-esteem, symptoms of depression, and complaints of body aches and pains.

When bullying occurs, many times, schools focus on short-term solutions, and some faculty members are inadequately trained to deal with bullying behavior. Many incidents are never even reported. Some victims do not admit they are being bullied out of fear of retaliation or feelings of shame. However, intervention is always needed and is necessary to decrease the number of instances a bully can choose to attempt.

In order to prevent bullying in schools, educators need to focus on the bystander as a key element for intervention.

Educators should also be trained to know the difference between bullying and simple horseplay. It is vital that bullies are monitored at school. In addition, clearly stated consequences should be established for those who choose to act as a bully.

Educators should be attentive to students who isolate themselves from others or those students who are new at a school.

Intervention is necessary because young people who bully will become adults who bully.

Dr. Sonya Rogers is a certified counselor who serves as an English instructor for Daphne Middle School and Faulkner State Community College.

Rogers’ column runs twice a month, exclusively in the Daphne Bulletin and on baldwincountynow.com.