By Óscar David Hernández Carranza
The silent echo of bullying, also known as bullying, resonates in the halls of our educational institutions for generations. Far from being a mere “child thing”, this persistent and aggressive behavior is deeply embedded in individual formation, leaving lasting emotional scars.
Today, more than ever, given the growing complexity of the cyberbullying, a strong and unified action is required to banish the shadows of the classroom and guarantee a safe and respectful learning environment for all.
Bullying, as defined by the “NORMA BULL-LI-2015-A”it’s a “Aggressive and repeated behavior, of one or more students to another student, which implies an imbalance of power. It can be physical, verbal or social, and intends to cause damage, fear or anguish”.
To this definition is added the insidious reality of ciberbullyinga form of harassment that uses the digital media – social remedies, emails, text messages – to “Send, publish or share negative, harmful, false or malicious content about another person”.
These forms of violence are not isolated events, but intentional and repeated behavior patterns, where the victim is perceived vulnerable and unprotected against his aggressor.
The consequences of bullying and cyberbullying are devastating for the mental health of young people. Victims may experience depression, anxiety, low self -esteem, eating disorders and even suicidal thoughts.
Public humiliation and constant harassment can make young people feel trapped and without escape. It is crucial to remember that “In an advanced state of bullying and cyberbullying, you can tend to aggression towards itself and at the end, you can get to self -inflict damage and even suicide”.
This tragic reality underlines the urgency of addressing the problem with the seriousness it deserves. Even witnesses of these aggressions can be affected, normalizing violence or suffering the same consequences as victims and aggressors.
Given this panorama, educational institutions have a Unavoidable responsibility in the “Bullying care, care and prevention”. The “Bull-Li-2015-A” standard is erected as a “Action guide, of informative nature that aims to facilitate and apply the intervention guidelines”establishing competence requirements for personnel involved.
It is essential to implement a “Continuous monitoring and evaluation system to measure the effectiveness of applied strategies and procedures”22 …, as well as adopt a “Zero tolerance policy” where “Any situation that can suggest an act of bullying or cyberbullying must be treated as authentic and true, and must be addressed with seriousness, respect and professionalism”.
The rule details an action protocol that covers the verification of the situation, the evidence documentation, the individual interview with the parties involved (victim, aggressor, witnesses and families) and the monitoring of the cases. It is crucial “To guarantee the immediate security of the student and the protection of their integrity and human dignity, without blaming or stigmatizing the alleged aggressor”.
The “Bull-Li-2015-A” standard is not a static document; It is based on the principle of Continuous improvementcon “Reviews every three years from its initial publication in 2015” and one “Complete review by a multidisciplinary group of experts” Every ten years. This commitment to periodic update is essential to ensure its relevance and adaptation to the new forms that bullying adopts, especially in the digital field.
The possibility of obtaining a “antibullying” certification Incentives schools to implement and demonstrate their competence in this critical area. This norm adds to an increasing international legal and regulatory framework, which recognizes the right of children to a violence -free education.
Breaking the shadows of the classroom is a task that competes to us all. Students, teaching and administrative staff, families and the community in general must assume an active role in the prevention, detection and eradication of bullying and cyberbullying.
Only through a coordinated and sustained effort we can build educational environments where “dignity “ be the governing principle and where each young man can grow and develop fully, free of fear and anguish that generates harassment. The urgency of acting is undeniable; The well -being of our future generations depends on it.
