Seems like every class I’ve taught has had the problem. I’ve seen it when I’ve observed in my daughter’s classes. At least one child  is picked on by another child. No - make that bullied by another child. The bullying child says mean things, purposely trips, pokes at, and just continually bothers that other child when they get the chance.

As a teacher, the frustration is that it is difficult to catch the bully in the act. For them to receive a consequence that will make them pause in the future, they really need to be caught in the act of bullying.

I needed a way to prevent the bullying. I knew that it happened while the class walked down the hall. That’s where I chose to make a change in my procedure.

I used to have my line leader lead my class, while I walked next to them. If a door needed to be held open, I’d hold it as my class walked on through. Problem was, I couldn’t see all of the class, thereby giving opportunity to those doing the bullying.

Here’s how I changed my line procedure, so that I could keep my entire class in sight.

I put the line leader first.

I assigned a new class helper position - door holder. They lined up second, even if no doors would need to be opened.

I called out various ways for the students to line up - sometimes by colors worn, by letters in their names, or by other ideas. I looked carefully to eliminate the possibility that the bully would be next to the child they picked on. If they still ended up next to each other, I put someone between them. I never said why, because they knew.

When we walked, we had certain places the leader was to stop and wait for all to catch up.

I walked next to the last child in line, allowing me to see everyone in the line.

They never went around a corner unless all of the class had caught up. And I always stood at the corner so I could see everyone on both sides of the turn. Isn’t peripheral vision great when we need it.

I found that keeping the class walking together, and keeping all of the children in my sight, eliminated the opportunity for bullying - at least during this part of the day. The child being picked on knew I was looking out for them. And the bully knew they were being watched.