Unfortunately, bullying is a very real problem in American schools today. No matter the age of your child, they have likely experienced bullying in their school. Whether they have experienced these incidents as a bystander, a victim, or the culprit of the bullying, your child will be impacted by the situation, and the impact is rarely a positive one.
For this reason, it is incredibly important for parents to communicate with their children on the subject of bullying. This helps them understand the proper reactions for next time, and gives them an opportunity to understand exactly what is considered bullying as well as the terrible things that can come of it. It is also a good idea for parents to have a good idea of what happens throughout the child’s day in school, online, and in other social situations. This makes it possible for the guardian to step in should something seem amiss.
That said, the best way to take care of bullying issues is to take steps to make these sorts of incidents as infrequent as possible. Perhaps the most effective step you can take is enrolling your student in a private school. While private schools don’t eradicate the problem, they do have fewer issues with bullies.
How We Minimize Bullying:
Smaller Class Sizes
One of the biggest advantages of private schools is the smaller class sizes. Tiny group classes, combined with plenty of one-on-one learning lead to less unsupervised school time. Individualized learning sessions make negative interactions with peers impossible, and smaller classes lend themselves well to promoting teamwork while still ensuring the instructor can see and hear everything that is happening. Of course, smaller overall student numbers also help in that the school setting is more intimate and tends to create a feeling of family, making rude comments and unnecessary violence less likely to occur.
Highly Focused Students
It’s no secret that private schools tend to have more challenging and interesting curriculum. This is especially true in a one-on-one learning environment where the curriculum is tailored to the student. Because the schoolwork in these institutions is more engaging and because many opportunities for academic comparison are removed in the individualized learning environment, students have a tendency to be highly focused on their own education. This, in turn, means they are less focused on putting one another down. After all, who has time for teasing when their intense science project needs to be finished?
More Parental Involvement
In general, parents who enroll their children in private schools are more likely to be involved in their child’s education. This involvement typically means the students in these schools are having open and honest discussions with their parents at home. Their discussions can help children vent frustrations and give the students a chance to discuss the proper responses to negative social interactions. A supportive family can help a bully change their ways and give victims the confidence they need to handle their problems well. Therefore, more supportive families in your child’s school environment mean less bullying overall.
Whether your child is currently having issues with bullying or you are just trying to be as proactive as possible, the folks here at The Tenney School would be happy to help. We offer high-quality education in a warm and friendly learning environment that we are sure you and your family will love.
We hope you will contact us soon so we can give you a tour of our school and fill you in on all the amazing things one-on-one education can do for your student.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Tenney School offers individualized, one-to-one instruction for students in grades 5 through 12. Our curriculum is designed to meet the unique academic needs of each student, whether they are in middle school or high school. We focus on preparing students for success in their current grade level while also setting them up for future achievements in college and beyond. Our small class sizes and personalized learning approach ensure that students in every grade receive the attention and resources they need to excel academically.
The Tenney School has maintained accreditation through Cognia (formerly the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools) since 1979. The accreditation process is repeated every five-to-six years. The last School Accreditation Engagement Review of The Tenney School was successfull completed in February 2022.
The Tenney School earned an Index of Education Quality (IEQ) score of 318.5 from Cognia on the last review. This IEQ is well above the average school IEQ (278.34 – 283.33).