Introduction
Contemporary social problems occupy a significant place in the lives of numerous people and societies. Considering the wide variety of social issues that prevent numerous individuals from maintaining a high level of well-being, it is essential to understand the connections between modern social complications and the affected social systems. An excellent example of a contemporary social problem is bullying, a phenomenon that is often reported within the school environment (Horton, 2020). The present paper focuses on the connection between the social problem of bullying and the school system, describing each of these concepts and analyzing the characteristics of the school institution affiliated with the issue.
Part I: Bullying and the School System
Bullying has always been considered a social complication that has a distinctly negative impact on the surrounding communities. Scholarly research suggests that, in the presence of a bully, numerous people can become affected by violent behavior and discrimination (Carney et al., 2018). For instance, apart from the victims of bullying, the individuals also at risk of encountering the adverse consequences are the students witnessing the event and the teachers potentially responsible for preventing it (Dhami & Joshi, 2021). While students can develop anxiety and fear due to observing the bullying encounter and expecting similar behavior towards them, the tutors, who are typically tasked with ensuring safety, might experience psychological trauma and burnout (Dhami & Joshi, 2021). From this perspective, bullying inevitably influences a significant amount of people affiliated with the institution, resulting in serious complications that might impact the individuals’ future lives.
Considering the tremendous adverse effects initiated by bullying, society has broadly accepted this phenomenon as a social issue. In addition to the expansive academic research focused on identifying the origins of school bullying and preventing it, various organizations have directed their efforts toward decreasing the spread of bullying. Such programs as bullying interventions, psychological counseling, and preventative measures are frequently introduced at numerous educational facilities (Karikari et al., 2020). Furthermore, both private establishments and governmental agencies promote such endeavors. The majority of initiatives address school bullying as the most prominent issue to be mitigated.
As evident from the discussed materials, school as a social system is deeply connected with bullying. Given that bullying emerges in the school environment and might sometimes be initiated by improper teaching behaviors or a lack of educational interventions, the school can be considered closely affiliated with the problem of bullying (Horton, 2020). Therefore, schools can either facilitate violent activities or prevent them based on the teaching approaches and the informative practices adopted by the given organizations.
Part II: School System Evaluation
In the school as a social system, the interaction between individuals is arranged according to their status within the organization. The educational status directly affects the person’s capabilities and interactive patterns, establishing which social groups and members they can communicate with while remaining in the school. For instance, being divided into specific grades according to their ages and skills, children typically interact with their peers in a friendly fashion, creating strong bonds and friendships (Carney et al., 2018). With teachers, on the other hand, children must communicate using formal and respectful language, ensuring compliance with the system’s arrangement (Carney et al., 2018). Tutors have the capacity to interact with each other freely; however, they must remain knowledgeable of children’s needs and respectful towards their superiors.
Other social institutions involved in the interaction arrangement are the students’ families and neighboring schools. Families are typically expected to communicate with the school’s teachers, while other schools might participate in collaborative events (Dhami & Joshi, 2021). Additionally, other educational facilities, such as colleges or universities, can also be engaged in the interaction, connecting with the students or teachers to promote their organization or provide opportunities.
Part III: School’s Influence on Bullying
Although the school’s efforts are usually aimed at mitigating instances of bullying, these establishments still remain closely affiliated with this problem. As such, the school can become the basis for preventative measures and intervention, improving the children’s understanding of the issue and ensuring that the bullying instances are reduced as much as possible (Dhami & Joshi, 2021). Nevertheless, the absence of such initiatives and attention from the tutors can also result in negative outcomes, with bullying behavior being disregarded and thus becoming integrated into the students’ lives. Moreover, the school environment can sometimes promote bullying, as the system remains exceptionally enclosed and requires consistent participation from the involved individuals (Karikari et al., 2020). From this perspective, schools must be especially aware of these characteristics, ensuring that they are appropriately addressed through intervention programs and appropriate counseling.
Conclusion
To conclude, the social problem of bullying and its connection to the school as a social system has been discussed in detail in this paper, identifying the primary aspects of these concepts and their interrelationships. In educational settings, bullying becomes a pertinent issue for a variety of social systems, from families to the involved communities; however, of particular interest is the school, a social system closely affiliated with the complication. Considering that the school environment can either promote bullying or hinder its development based on the teaching approaches chosen, significant attention should be directed toward integrating relevant measures to prevent bullying’s occurrence.
References
Carney, J. V., Liu, Y., & Hazler, R. J. (2018). A path analysis on school bullying and critical school environment variables: A social capital perspective. Children and Youth Services Review, 93, 231–239. Web.
Dhami, M., & Joshi, N. (2021). A systematic analysis of causes and consequences of school bullying among children. The National Life Skills, Value Education & School Wellness Program, 5(2), 38–43.
Horton, P. (2020). Reframing school bullying: The question of power and its analytical implications. Power and Education, 12(2), 213–220. Web.
Karikari, I., Brown, J. R., Ashirifi, G. D., & Storms, J. (2020). Bullying prevention in schools: The need for a multiple stakeholder approach. Advances in Social Work, 20(1), 61–81. Web.