(Herald Sun)

A new book by an Australian expert on bullying in schools has set out six methods used by teachers to tackle this scourge of the playground.

Bullying Interventions in Schools: Six Basic Approaches by Dr Ken Rigby explores traditional and contemporary ways to prevent and intervene in cases of bullying in primary and secondary schools.

Read the full article [here].

Six approaches to bullying are listed by Dr. Ken Rigby:

1. Traditional Disciplinary Methods

This is the oldest form of dealing with bullying and the most popular of all approaches, Rigby says.

2. Strengthening the victim

This sets out to equip the victim with the skills to counter a bullying attack themselves.

3. Mediation

Teachers or trained students take on the role of mediator

4. Restorative Justice

This method begins with the feelings of remorse the bully voluntarily expresses.

5. Support group

Formely known as the no-blame approach, the first step in this method is to hear from the victim and the ways in which bullying has affected them

6. Method of shared concern

Another non-blaming approach to bullying, this is the most comprehensive and complex method in the book, Rigby says.