ABSTRACT
The
project consist of five (5) chapters among the important content of chapter one
include the introduction, background to the study, statement of problems,
limitation of t he study, definition of terms and purposes of study. All these
are some of the important issues discussed in the chapter. Chapter two was
devoted to literature review, where different theories were put to proper
explanation. Such theories as developmental theory and other theories. Facts
and figures of bullying were also included in this chapter. Chapter three
focuses on methodology of data gathered. Chapter four dealt on the analysis of
data and interpretation of results, while chapter five dealt with the
conclusion, summary, and recommendations.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
TO THE STUDY
In
schools, bullying occurs in all areas. It can occur in nearly any part in or
around the school building, thought it more often occurs in recess, hallways,
bathrooms, on school buses and waiting for buses, classes that require group
work or after school activities. Bullying in school sometimes consist of a
group of students taking advantage of or isolating one student in particular
and gaining the loyalty of bystanders, who, in some cases want to avoid
becoming the next victim. School bullying is a widespread issue that affects
secondary school students in three essential parts of their lives;
psychologically, educationally and professionally. Bullying is a sort of
aggressive behaviour against others such as, verbal by calling nasty names,
physical by kicking, pushing or tripping up and social by everyone stopped
talking to you.
Academic
achievement is the first aspect which influences bullying at school. therefore,
bullied children live within fear, self-blame,
feel weak and it affects their personality traits and self-confidence,
so this situation makes them unable to study well and they might hate going to
school. Furthermore, they will lose their opportunities to participate with
others or enjoy school activities. Hence, they will gain less academic
performance and low educational attainment. There is a strong relationship between
bullying and school quality such as class size, lack of library, sports
facilities. Both bullies and victims feel more negative about school, and
persistent bullying may lead to stress and depression. Bullying can lead to
anxiety, low self-esteem, hopelessness and isolation. Children miss lessons or
are scared to attend school. They lose concentration when they do attend. Some
of the effects last long after the bullying, until they are adults.
One
adverse effect of bullying is that it also leads to suicide. While suicide is
rare in bullied children, the other effects of bullying are also devastating
and last well beyond the time when the child is actually bullied. Many schools
have a zero tolerance policy towards bullying, but sometimes have difficulty
identifying the victims and the abusers because children are afraid to come
forward. Bullying causes long-term problems such as depression and anxiety. In
his essay “The long term effects of bullying”, psychologist Mark Dombeck relays
his own bullying experiences as a child, as well as the experience of his
patients and then, asserts that the anger, anxiety, and depression of that
moment often lingers into adulthood, causing problems with keeping a job,
forming relationship and even continued victimization in abusive relationship
or work environment.
Students
who are bullied cannot concentrate in schools, so their grades may be a warning
sign that a student is being bullied. A child’s grade may also suffer if he or
she misses a lot of school due to bullying. Children who are bullied will
complain of headaches, stomachaches, and overall fatigue. This issues are
usually caused by mental anguish that manifest in physical ailments. Students
who are bullied often use physical complaints to get out of school.
additionally, they may avoid infectious from holding crime during the day. A
particularly unfortunate effect of bullying is that some children who are
bullied go on to victimize and harass other children. In the same way that some
student begin to bully at school because they are bullied at home, children who
are bullied at school will begin to look for children more vulnerable than they
are to bully. It is an effort to exert any power they may have over someone
more vulnerable. A bullied children, may, at the demand of his own bully become
a bully to another child.
In
the light of this problem, the study is designed to assist students, teachers,
parents, and concerned bodies on how to avoid bullying in some selected
secondary school in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.
1.2
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
This
research is aimed at finding the causes and proposing solutions to bullying in
the school environment. The problem will investigate into bullying by some set
of students and the victims. Whether there are better supervisions during
recess, launch time, and break time, whether there are class rules against
bullying and class meetings. Whether there are creative solutions to helps
students by classroom teachers, whether there are talks with targets, bullies
and their parents.
1.3
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
Having
examined the problem to be investigated in the study, it is imperative to state
the purpose of this study, hence these include;
i.
To
find out the negative impact of bullying on students in schools in Edo State.
ii.
To
find out whether students in Edo State are really bullied in schools.
iii.
To
find out why the students are bullied.
iv.
To
make recommendations on the ways to stop bullying.
v.
To
find out the extent to which it has affected the academic performance in Edo
State.
1.4
SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
This
research will enable those concerned know how to deal with the problem of
bullying and its obvious consequences on school children. These include;
i.
It
will enable the victims know why they are bullied and how to avoid being
bullied.
ii.
Schools
in Edo State will now adopt measures stated to avoid bulling in their schools.
iii.
The
effects of bullying on students in Edo State will be better solved in the
overall academic performance enhanced.
1.5
LIMITATIONS OF STUDY
This
study is limited to some secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area in
Edo State. given that a sizeable number cannot be taken due to time, the study
is limited only to ten secondary schools which will be randomly selected.
1.6
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This
research project hopes to provide answers to the following questions;
1. Is there any difference between
violence and school bullying?
2. Can academic achievement take place
without bullying?
3. Does bullying affect students
performance in schools?
4. Does supervision reduce the effects of
bullying?
1.7
SCOPE OF STUDY
This
study includes ten (10) students from ten (10) schools that are mixed secondary
schools. The f acts obtained will enable the researcher to see if some students
are more bullied than others and the effects on the students.
1. Osemwende Senior Secondary School.
2. Joseph High School
3. Mattphilo Secondary School
4. Christ Mission School
5. Rezheights high School
6. Sound Mentality High School
7. Charity high School
8. Great Love High School
9. Gold high School
10.
Sunlight
High School.
1.8
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Bullying: Bullying is the process of using
aggressive behaviour manifested by the use of force or coercion to affect
others, particularly when the behaviour is habitual and involves an imbalance
of power.
Academic Performance: is the outcome of education- the
extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their
educatgional goals.
Victim: Is the person who has been hurt.
Depression: This is a mental state in which you
are sad and feel that you cannot enjoy anything because your situation is so
difficult and unpleasant.,
Concentration: this involves giving all your
attention to it.
Vulnerable: Someone who is vulnerable is weak and
without protection with the result that they are easily hurt physically or
emotionally.