How Teachers Can Spot Bullies in the Classroom

Spotting a bully in your classroom is not as easy as it sounds. In fact, there is more than one type of bully at school. Bullies come in all shapes, sizes, and personality types. Some bullies are popular and well-liked while others are loners with only a few friends.

Other times, kids resort to bullying as a way to avoid becoming a target themselves. These bullies are usually referred to as bully-victims because they have been victimized in the past. As a result, they are either looking for revenge or are using the components of bullying as a self-preservation tool.

Yet regardless of what type of person is doing the bullying, there are some signs that can help you determine if a child is a bully or not. Knowing this information is helpful for teachers looking to identify bullies in their classrooms.

Common Types of Bullies

Bullying is not a one-size-fits-all phenomenon. In fact, there are at least six different types of bullies, including:

• Relational bullies
• Serial bullies
• Indifferent bullies
• Bully-victims
• Group bullies
• Aggressive bullies.

Gender Dynamics

No one will argue that physical bullying is much easier to spot than any other type of bullying. For this reason, parents and educators often miss the fact that girls are bullying too. They merely may not use physical aggression to do it. Instead girls frequently resort to relational aggression, verbal bullying, and name-calling. It is important to broaden your perspective.

Characteristics of Bullies

If you embrace some of the myths about bullying, including that all bullies are loners with no friends and low self-esteem, you are going to miss a lot of other types of bullies. You will especially miss the serial bullies, who are frequently the most difficult types of bullies to spot because their behavior is often very covert and hidden from the watchful eyes of adults. Get to know the characteristics of each type of bully and then see if you have any of them in your classroom.

A Sense of Entitlement

Many times, bullies believe that the rules do not apply to them. Bullies may feel that because they are good in school, good at sports, or come from a prominent family, they can do whatever they want.

Bullies also believe that others are below them. You will see a strong sense of contempt in this type of bully, especially when they interact with others whom they feel are beneath them.

Watch how these kids treat lunchroom employees, janitors, wait staff, store clerks, and other people in service-oriented positions. Most kids with entitlement issues will bully others in your classroom and feel as though they are doing nothing wrong.

Frequent Outbursts

Sometimes bullies have difficulty managing emotions, especially anger. So they are controlling and aggressive to get what they want. This type of bully also pressures other kids to do what they want them to do. This bullying personality demonstrates very little cooperation and often a great deal of manipulation. When you see these types of behaviors on a consistent basis, bullying may be a tool these kids use to get their way when you are not looking. 

They Can be Charming

This bullying trait is often likened to Eddie Haskell. Eddie Haskell was a fictional character on Leave it to Beaver who would greet his friends’ parents with overdone good manners and compliments. But when the parents were not around, Eddie was not a nice kid. He was often conniving, and pressuring on his friends. Frequently he was bullying to Wally’s younger brother Beaver.

Typically parents and educators are shocked to learn that this type of child is a bully because he or she has always been so nice and polite. But if a student in your class seems too good to be true, pay attention.

They Have Trouble With Authority

While some bullies are more subtle with their aggression, other bullies clearly have issues with following rules and listening to authority figures. Some bullies will get into arguments with teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, and parents. They also may talk back, make sarcastic remarks, and have an overall disrespectful attitude toward anyone who has authority.

They Exclude

One of the biggest forms of relational aggression is ostracizing, excluding, or icing out other kids. If a child regularly refuses to be friends with other people, doesn’t want to be inclusive of everyone, or picks and chooses people to associate with, this is a good indication bullying may be an issue. Another indication of bullying is a child who is not accepting of another person’s differences.

The Like Drama

Mean girls, fake friends, and frenemies often create a lot of drama. In addition to subtly bullying others, they also create tension and anxiety among groups of friends. They also are more prone to spreading rumors, cyberbullying and slut-shaming others.

While much of this type of behavior is done outside the watchful eyes of adults, the drama it causes will be visible. Consequently, if you see a lot of drama among a group at school, do a little research to discover the root of the problem. Most of the time, you will find a bully in the end.

Don’t Overlook the Followers

Many times, bullying is about attaining or even maintaining a position on the social ladder at school. As a result, many otherwise good kids will bully others because of peer pressure. They also may bully to get attention or to feel like they are part of a group or clique.

In other instances, bullies will get followers to do their dirty work. Some kids comply because they are afraid of becoming targets themselves. Or some kids comply because they feel it’s the only way to remain in the group. Keep an eye on the kids who follow another person's lead and see if you can direct that kid to be a leader. You may keep them from going down the wrong path.

A Word From Verywell

As an educator, it can be frustrating at times to deal with bullying on a regular basis. But if you establish a climate of respectfulness in your classroom early on, you will discover that bullying issues occur much less frequently.

Additionally, your students will learn more and do better overall in your classroom if they have confidence that you will not tolerate bullying. They can focus on learning instead of worrying about being targeted because they know you have it under control.