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.