Cavite State University

Don Severino de las Alas Campus

Indang, Cavite

PHILIPPINES ISSUES ON
SCHOOL / CLASSROOM BULLYING

Submitted by:
Cezar M. Barranta Jr.
PhD in Educational Managament

ABSTRACT

This paper discussed bullying and its effects on the children who have been bullied, who is
bully and children who witness bullying situations. It also discussed how the school, parents
and guardians deal if their children are caught are up in different bullying situations. The
paper highlighted the issues of school bullying in the Philippines and its serious psychological
consequences for victims that includes low psychological wellbeing, poor social adjustment,
psychological distress and physical illness.

INTRODUCTION
Bullying in school is a worldwide problem that can have negative consequences for the general
school climate and for a safe environment without fear. Bullying can also have negative
lifelong consequences-both for students who bully, for their victims and to the persons who
have witnessed bullying situations.
Although the phenomenon of bullying in schools have been always present but it is
increasing day after the other and thats why the government is paying more attention to the
social life. School bullying is always related in some way to the acts of violence, and thats
why the Education department is stressing more on the idea behind making schools free of
violence and urging students, their parents and teachers to act on fighting any act of violence
that appears in any school, and they are also stressing on the idea that schools should be a place
free from any threats for the children.
A survey that was recently conducted showed that one in two Filipino children
witnesses violence or abuse in their schools. It was also proved that students in the schools of
Philippine witness the different types of bullying, which might be verbal such as calling

names, being made fun of, or it might be social such as letting the child out of activities
by others, or making the student do things he/she did not want to make it in the first place.
The Department of Education in the Philippines reported more than 1,700 cases of child
abuse or bullying in schools for the years of 2013 and 2014, although the DepEd lately said
that this number is decreasing, and that comes after they issued an order in 2012 known as
DepEd Child Protection Policy which states the policy and guidelines for the child protection
in schools against abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination, bullying and other different
forms that might be a threat for the child. The 2012 DepEd Child Protection Policy not only
takes care of the violence targeted towards the children but it also look at the side of the Family
and that is referring to school administrators, teachers, academic and non academic staff, to
take care of the children and deal with those who already suffered any kind of bullying before.
The House of Representatives in Philippine has approved a bill that requires all the
elementary and the secondary schools to adopt policies that prevent bullying or any other kind
of violence in the schools. This bill requires the schools to include the anti-bullying policies in
the school students and employee handbook, it should be apparent on the wall of the schools,
the classrooms and websites. The schools should then submit to the DepEd after six months
upon the effect of the law, and any incidents should be reported immediately, and in case of
absence of the policies in any school, there is a sanction that falls on the schools administrators.
With bullying being referred to as an aggressive behavior that is done repeatedly and
might turn out to be an act of violence, that might be verbal, physical or social, and usually the
person who is responsible for these acts is doing so because he/she wants to show that he/she
is more powerful, they want to grab the attention of the people around them, and it does not
always have to be out of revenge or hatred, sometimes they come out of the person because
they are just bored. Schools should pay more attention for bullying because:

Children might take this behavior with them even after they leave schools, so teachers
should apply policies that will improve the safety and happiness of the students, and to show
bullies that any of these acts is unacceptable in schools.
Bullying is not just an act that happens and is forgotten the time it is finished, but it
might lead the victim to feel depressed, to get away from any social activity, to feel powerless,
shameful or always threatened.
Bullying is comprised of direct behaviors such as teasing, taunting, threatening, hitting
and stealing that are initiated by one or more students against a victim. In addition to direct
attacks, bullying may also be more indirect by causing a student to be socially isolated through
intentional exclusion. While boys typically engage in direct bullying methods, girls who bully
are more apt to utilize these more subtle indirect strategies, such as spreading rumors and
enforcing social isolation (Ahmad and Smith, 1994; Smith & Sharp, 1994). Whether the
bullying is direct or indirect, the key component of bullying is that the physical or
psychological intimidation occurs repeatedly over time to create an ongoing pattern of
harassment and abuse (Batsche & Knoff, 1994; Olweus, 1993).
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that invokes a
real or perceived power imbalance. It is an intentional repetitive act that affects to both kids
who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problem.

PHILIPPINE BULLYING STORIES

Case 1
As bullying comes in many form, one of them is the physical bullying which is defined as
doing something that will harm the victim. This incident took place in Fisher Valley College
in Taguig. The first bullying incident happened in July 2013, when the girls classmate pulled

away her chair just as she was about to sit on it. This caused the girl to fall. The girls parents
complained and the school promised to separate the two kids.
Four months after the incident, another classmate poked the girls right palm with a pencil. The
girl was given first aid by a teacher, and not the school nurse. When the girls father came to
fetch her, he noticed that the lead point of the pencil was stuck in the girls right thumb. The
father took her to an emergency room to have the lead removed. Then the girls parents
complain again to the school. This time, the vice principal said that the child who poked the
girl with a pencil would be transferred to another classroom. But that didnt happen.
Instead, the school recommended a one-week leave of absence for 5-year-old girl and the child
who hurt her, calling it a cooling off period. Then the school assigned an intern to watch over
the bullied girl.
After the school year as the valedictorian of her kindergarten class, the girl transferred to
another school. But her parents want make sure that Fisher Valley College takes complaints
about bullying seriously, which is why they have filed a formal complaint at the Department
of Education.
The little girl has also began to seeing a psychiatrist, who confirmed that she was experiencing
a lot of anxiety. Until now, no updates were reported yet.

Case 2
A 9-year-old boy from Tanong Elementary School in Malabon is in critical condition after he
was allegedly bullied by his classmates. Fred Aston Mendoza, a Grade 4 student, was confined
in the Philippine Children's Medical Center after undergoing surgery.
The victim's mother, Vilma Santos Mendoza, said her son had bruises when he went home
heard complaints from his son that his son was stripped, punched and kicked in his abdomen.
Later that night, the boy suffered from high fever.

When he was brought to the hospital, it was found out that he was suffering from internal
bleeding in his liver. Fred underwent surgery.
School authorities have called the parents of the two children involved in the incident.
It has only been a month since President Aquino signed RA 10627, or the Anti Bullying Act.
Fred's case is only one of the many cases of bullying in Malabon that time. Malabon police
have recorded 7 recent cases of bullying in the city. Authorities are keeping tabs on schools
with numerous cases of bullying.

Case 3
An incident in Zamboanga City may add to the present case as a 14-year-old boy, believed to
have been bullied in school, committed suicide in Tungawan town in Zamboanga Sibugay.
According to the towns police chief, said the 8th grader boy, left a note blaming his classmate
and a neighbor. The boy was found hanging from the ceiling with a cable wire tied around his
neck. A suicide note was also recovered from the scene. The boy was living with his aunt.
The assistant school division superintendent urged authorities to investigate the boys death.
The suspicion have lead them to the bullies and they must be identified to prevent more cases
like this.
The superintendent also reminded schools to strictly advocate and observe the anti-bullying
guidelines.

REPUBLIC ACT R.A. 10627 ANTI-BULLYING ACT

Last December 23, 2013, the RA 10627 was implemented to collectively address the problems
on bullying. This covers elementary and secondary schools and this also covers physical,
social, verbal, and cyber bullying.

As requirements, the school must come up with policies defining and prohibiting
bullying inside and outside school premises including retaliation against person who reports
bullying incident or bullies. The school should also come up with admin procedures and
disciplinary actions, rehabilitation program for bullies, and strategies and procedures for
recording system, reporting and investigation, and filtering of false reports and disciplinary
action for students making false reports. In addition, the school should have strategies and
procedures for the safety and security of the students, support services such as counseling for
victims, privacy students involve, and education for parents and students on bullying dynamics.
As it is now established in the public and private schools, it was reported that on the
school year 2013-2014, there were 1,700 reports of child abuse and bullying in school and 60
percent of these were resolved.

EFFECTS OF BULLYING
The effects of school bullying are pervasive and far-reaching. From mental point of view, a
child's self-esteem can be severely impacted even years after bullying has stopped. The victims
of bullying may suffer from depression, particularly if the bullying has occurred over a long
period of time (Laneaux, 2010). It should be recognized that this mental effects do not stop at
the bullied, they also extended to the bullies. According to Omoteso (2010) studies have shown
that those involved in prolonged and serious bullying of others experience wide range of mental
health, academic and social problems. He also pointed out that studies point to the connection
between bullying and sexual harassment and violence in later years.
Bullying can affect everyone those who are bullied, those who bully and those who witness
bullying. Bullying is link to many negative outcomes including impacts on mental health,
substance use an suicide.

Effects on Kids who are being Bullied

Bullying can make kids don't want to play outside and go to school. It makes the child think
that school is one of the scary place to go to. School bullying affects the relationship between
the bullied and his or her parents or guardians. The relationship between a parent and the child
who is being bullied may be strained because of the child's hostility towards school. For
instance, a child may blame his or her parents for forcing him to go to that school (Laneaux,
2010). For victims repeated bullying can cause psychological distress and many other allied
problems.
Kids who are bullied can experience negative physical, school and mental issues. Kids who
are bullied are more likely to experience:

Depression and anxiety, increased feeling of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep
and eating patterns, and loss of activities they used to enjoy. These issues may persist
into adulthood

Health complaints

Decreased academic achievement GPA and standardized test scores and school
participation that are more likely to miss, skip or drop out of school.

According to Wikipedia (2010) victims of bullying can suffer from long-term emotional
and behavioral problems. Bullying can cause loneliness, depression, anxiety, lead to low selfesteem and increased susceptibility to illness.
School bullying also has physical effects. Bruises, scratches and scars can mean a child is
being bullied. Aside from the normal bumps and scrapes that young children get from playing,
excessive marks should be investigated. Also a loss of appetite or sleep is common as a result
of the fear and anxiety that bullying cause (Laneaux, 2010). Bullying also affects the friendly
relationship of the victim and his or her friends. A child may isolate himself or develop a

general distrust of people. He may also seek revenge on his bully or feel justified in attacking
other children to relieve stress or anxiety (Laneaux, 2010).
A very small number of bullied children might retaliate through extremely violent measures.

Effects on Kids Who Bully Others

To the bully, the act of bullying gives pleasures and occupies most of his time. The time and
energy that should be used in studies is now directed to mischief, hence, poor academic
performance. In a bullying situation there is always fear and tension for victims. This tense
atmosphere creates no room for peace. Learning can never take place effectively in a not
peaceful environment.
Furthermore, for bullies, aggression may persist into adulthood in the form of criminality,
marital violence, child abuse and sexual harassment.
Kids who bully others can also engage in violent and other risky behaviors into adulthood.
Kids who bully are more likely to:

Abuse and other drugs in adolescence and as adults

Get into fights, vandalize property, and drop out of school

Engage in early sexual activity

Have criminal convictions and traffic citations as adults

Be abusive toward their romantic partners, spouses, or children as adults

Effects on Kids Who Witness Bullying

Kids who witness bullying are more likely to:

Have increased use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs

Have increased mental health problems, including depression and anxiety

Miss or skip school

Bullying has a very detrimental effect on children especially on the victims who can
become school-phobic (Martins Umeh and Ndubuaku (ed) in Nnachi and Ezeh, 2003)
The problem of bullying goes beyond the bullies and their victims to the peers and even the
entire community. Through life, bullying gives room to an atmosphere of fear, dread and
victimization.
Developing a safe and supportive school climate. This is an important starting pointfor
counsellors is to realize that much bullying occurs without the knowledge of teachers and
parents, and that many victims are very reluctant to tell adults of their problems with bullying
(Egbochuku, 2007).

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BULLYING AND SUICIDE

Media reports often link bullying with suicide. However, most youth who are bullied do not
have thoughts of suicide or engage in suicidal behaviors. Although kids who are bullied are at
risk of suicide, bullying alone is not the cause. Many issues contribute to suicide risk, including
depression, problems at home, and trauma history. Additionally, specific groups have an
increased risk of suicide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. This risk can be
increased further when these are not supported by parents, peers, and schools. Bullying can
make unsupportive situation worse.

TYPES OF CHILDREN WHO ARE BEING BULLIED

Children with physical, developmental, emotional and sensory disabilities are more likely to
be bullied that their peers. Any number of factors physical vulnerability, social skill
challenges, or intolerant environments may increase their risks. Research suggests that some
children with disabilities may bully other as well.

Kids with special health needs, such as epilepsy or food allergies, may also be at higher
risk of being bullied. For kids with special health needs, bullying can include making fun of
kids because of their allergies or exposing them to things they are allergic to. In these cases,
bullying is not just serious; it can mean life or death.
A small but growing amount of research shown that:

Children with attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely than
other children to be bullied. They also are somewhat more likely than others to bully
their peers (Tynman et al., 2010; Unnever & Cornell, 2003; Weiner & Mak, 2009).

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at increased risk of being bullied
and left out by peers (Twyman et al., 2010). In a study of 8-17 year-olds, researchers
found that children with ASD were more three times as likely to be bullied by peers
(Hamiwka, Yu, Hamiwka, Sherman, Anderson, & Wirrell, 2009), as are children with
medical conditions that affect their appearance, such as cerebral palsy, muscular
dystrophy and spina bifida. These children frequently report being called names related
to their disability (Dawkins, 1996).

Children with hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of their body) are more likely than other
children of their age to be bullied and have fewer friends (Yude, Goodman, &
McConachie, 1998).

Children who have diabetes and are dependent on insulin may be especially vulnerable
to peer bullying (Storch et al., 2004).

Children who stutter may be more likely to be bullied. In one study, 83 percent of adults
who stammered as children said that they were teased or bullied; 71 percent of those
who had been bullied said it happened at least once a week (Hugh-Jones and Smith,
1999).

Children with learning disabilities (LD) are at a greater risk of being bullied (Martlew
& Hudson, 1991; Mishna, 2003; Nabozuka & Smith, 1993; Thompson, Whitney, &
Smith, 1994; Twyman, Saylor, Saia, Macias, Taylor & Spratt, 2010). At least one study
also has found that children with LD may also be more likely than other children to
bullying their peers (Twyman et al., 2010).

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS:

If you believe a child with special needs is being bullied:

Be supportive of the child and encourage him or her to describe who was involved and
how and where the bullying happened. Be sure to tell the child that it is not his or her
fault and that nobody deserves to be bullied or harassed. Do not encourage the child to
fight back. This may make the problem worse.

Ask the child specific questions about his or her friendships. Be aware of signs of
bullying, even if the child doesnt call it that. Children with disabilities do not always
realize they are being bullied. They may, for example, believe that they have a new
friend although this friend is making fun of them.

Talk with the childs teacher immediately to see whether he or she can help to resolve
the problem.

Put your concerns in writing and contact the principal if the bullying or harassment is
severe or the teacher doesnt fix the problem. Explain what happened in detail and ask
for a prompt response. Keep a written record of all conversations and communications
with the school.

Explore whether the child may also be bullying other younger, weaker students at
school.

Be persistent. Talk regularly with the child and with school staff to see whether the
behavior has stopped.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

As per study and experience, bullying in the Philippine schools line in other parts of the world,
is a phenomenon that has serious psychological consequences.
Sometimes, the Philippines administration cannot manage to control bullying incidents
in our schools. Understanding why bullying happens in schools will make it easy for the parents
and guardians to help their children from being victims and ensure that their children do not
become bullies themselves.
In line with the conclusion above, below are the following recommendations for the
solutions to the problem of school bullying:
1. Schools must have peer clubs that concerns anti-bullying matters.
2. Anti-bullying policies and lectures on handling them must be given to the parents
during their regular monthly PTA Meetings.
3. Hotlines should be available on the school premises posted on the conspicuous areas
for the easy access in times of bullying situations is concern. This will also serve as
warning to those student who wants to bully someone.
4. School administrators, teachers and parents as well should realize the danger of the
media. They should discourage children and students of watching violence, murders,
rape, and robberies, etc.

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