Preservice teachers’ knowledge about bullying: implications for teacher education

Abstract

Schools are placing a heavy focus on providing a safe learning environment. Part of that safe environment is for the school to be a bully-free zone. In order for a school to be bully-free, staff must be able to identify bullying when it happens in order to make appropriate referrals. This article looks at the ability of pre-service teachers to identify bullying, their knowledge about bullying, and their perception of how to help. It is clear from the results of this survey, more attention needs to be spent helping pre-service teachers identify bullying as a means of keeping the school building and the students within it safe.

Keywords:

• Bullying
• teacher training
• intervention in schools
• pre-service learning
• teacher education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer Mahon

Jennifer Mahon is an Associate Professor and Graduate Director of Secondary Education at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is a Fellow of the International Academy of Intercultural Research. Her research focuses on teacher development especially in relation to teacher career preparation, international education and intercultural sensitivity. Along with Kenneth Cushner she is the author of the Inventory of Cross-Cultural Sensitivity. She is a trained counselor and has lived and worked in the U.S., England, Costa Rica and Australia.

Jill Packman

Jill Packman is the Director of Interprofessional Education and Collaboration at the University of Reno, School of Medicine and the AHEC Scholars Program. In addition, she is the course director for Behavioral Medicine and Investigative Skills for the Physician Assistant program. She specializes in play therapy, bullying in schools, and parent training. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist.

Elizabeth Liles

Elisabeth Liles-Lourick is a Professor of Counselor Education at California State University, Sacramento. She is a national board certified counselor, certified clinical mental health counselor, registered play therapist and supervisor, and licensed professional clinical counselor. She specializes in bullying, play therapy, school counseling, and counselor education.