Bullying Hotline for Schools

School Reporting Solution: Bullying Hotline

While once considered a rite of passage, it is now painstakingly clear the being bullied has long lasting negative effects on a child’s mental and physical health.

The biggest obstacle in putting a stop to school bullying is a child’s reluctance to report it. This can be due to any number of reasons including a lack of confidence that an intervening adult will make a difference. The main reason for not reporting a bully is the child’s fear of being retaliated against or becoming known as a tattle tale.

Despite the efforts of school officials and parents encouraging children to talk about their problems with a school bully, the problem continues to grow. So far, the only effective way to get a child to talk has been with a reporting hotline.

Create Bullying Hotline To Help Students Being Bullied

A school or even an entire school district can help put a stop to bullying by setting up a toll free vanity number that allows a child to report a bully or bullying incident. Most kids carry a cell phone nowadays and can easily use that to call in.

With a service like DialMyCalls’ bullying hotline, the school can set up a vanity hotline phone number that is easy for a child to remember. The child can then call in to this number any time of the day or night and leave a message reporting the incident. They regain some control as it is entirely up to them how much information they wish to divulge. This goes a long way in preserving self esteem as a distraught child will not feel intimidated by having to talk face to face with adults.

In the last few years, school bullying has turned from stealing someone’s lunch money, to harmful physical violence. This escalation in the severity of bullying calls for drastic measures on the part of school officials, police officers and parents.

The problem that officials and parents are facing is the reluctance of children to report a bully. It is suggested that this is due to a lack of confidence that the adult will intervene on the victims behalf.  Other reasons cited for not reporting a bully included:

• A fear of retaliation, not just by the bully, but by his or her circle of friends
• Shame at their inability to protect themselves
• A fear of not being believed
• Not wanting to involve their parents
• Lacking confidence that by reporting the bully change would take effect
• Not wanting to be considered a snitch or a tattle tale

While an adult may see these as poor excuses, for a child who is lacking in self esteem from bullying, these are legitimate concerns.

How to Help Overcome This Fear to Report

Despite efforts of officials and parents to encourage children to report a bully, the problem still exists. One of the most effective ways that schools are finding in putting a stop to bullying behaviors is by having an anonymous reporting system in place.

This can be done in a variety of ways, either at the school or off of the premises. One such way is with a school setting up a toll free number that allows a child to report a bully or bullying incident without being detected doing it. A phone service like DialMyCalls can help a school or even entire district set up a toll-free bullying hotline.

Using a vanity number that is easy for a child to remember, they simply call and leave a message reporting the incident. They regain some control as it is entirely up to them how much information they divulge. This is a better choice for a distraught child then a perceived interrogation by adults, wanting to know every little detail of the incident.

Since most kids are now equipped with cell phones, the call can be made from anywhere inside of the school or outside. School officials can even opt for an instant SMS program that allows children to send a communication via text message. With this two-way texting, a teacher or counselor can immediately respond to the child.

Student witnesses are also reluctant to report any bullying that takes place around them. The toll free hotline and SMS text messaging program will also work towards bringing them forward and reporting incidents.

Bullying has become a widespread epidemic affecting campuses all over the country. Once believed to be a harmless rite of passage, it is now well established that being the victim of a bully will have a lasting negative effect on a child’s psyche. In light of this, school officials and parents should be implementing as many programs as possible in order to protect the children who are being hurt by bullying.

Reporting School Incidents to the Bullying & Safety Hotline

Calling in to the bullying hotline is made as easy as possible with the DialMyCalls service to encourage kids to call in. Through their DialMyCalls account, school officials will be alerted that a voice message has been left for them. Once alerted, a school authority can log in and listen to the details of the call before taking appropriate action.

A free bullying tip hotline is not only for the victims of bullying. Studies show that children who witness a bully in action are just as reluctant to report it as the victim. The tip line is also available to them if they wish to protect a friend or peer.

School campuses across the nation are grappling with the problems associated with school bullying.

The only way to put a stop to it is with reporting the bullies, and the only proven effective way of doing that is by having options available to students. Setting up methods and encouraging kids to report is something all protectors of our children can easily implement.