STEP 1: SET THE SCENE

Why does bullying continue?

SCENARIO: Student 1 has targeted student 2 who is in a grade below him. Student 2 has just come out as transgendered. Student 1 has been circulating transphobic photos and websites to the other students in the school. You know that Student 1 has been bullied a great deal throughout his school career.





1You decide to speak to Students 1 and 2 and to the other students who you know are aware of the situation. You communicate clearly to Students 1 and 2, on an individual basis, that bullying is unacceptable at this school. You also state this publicly, without naming any of the students involved, ensuring that all students have heard you.

2You approach Student 2 to offer him your support and to discuss various strategies to ensure his safety. You decide to approach Student 1 as well, to explore the situation with him. Since you are aware of his personal experiences, you explore his behaviour to understand what is going on for him (see Module 7 for more information). You learn that he is living on his own, having moved out of his family’s household. He remains distant from his family and he and some other students have become interested in groups who tout homophobic and discriminatory values.

3You approach Student 2 to offer him your support and to discuss various strategies to ensure his safety. You explain clearly to Student 1 why his behaviour is unacceptable. You further explain that it is forbidden to behave in a discriminatory way toward other groups. You let him know that you are shocked that he has bullied someone, given his own experience being bullied. You send him to the VP for further discipline.

Explanation of the recommended response.