How to Deal With Teenage Gossip as a Teacher
Gossip is just as bad and sometimes worse than physical violence. As children age, many grow out of the physical aspect of bullying and instead opt for indirect bullying in the form of gossip. As a teacher, you must understand what constitutes gossip and how to deal with it among teenagers.
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Instructions
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Get together with your co-workers and superiors. Together, define what gossip is and make decisions accordingly. Ask your superiors if you can create an anti-bullying committee or a team of teachers that stays on top of bullying issues.
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Design random tests about bullying and gossip. Hand these tests out to your students. Include questions such as “Have you ever been bullied?” and “Have you ever heard negative or false information about yourself?” As you hand out the tests, explain to the students that it is an anonymous test and names are not included. Handing out a bullying test periodically gives you an idea of how bad gossip and bullying is in your school. With that information, you can get together with your colleagues and come up with a solution.
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Listen to your students at all times. Keep one ear open even while walking through the hallways. Observe the teens and listen to what they say. Listen for any negative discussions about other students or potential rumors. If you hear information that sounds negative, listen to other students and see if they are talking about the same thing.
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Observe the student being gossiped about. Look for signs that the student is distressed or depressed. If the student is in your class, take note of her recent performance. Speak with other teachers about her performance in their classes.
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Approach the student carefully. Instead of outright asking the student about any bullying or gossip, talk to the student casually. Form a bond and let the student talk when he is ready. Once the student feels more comfortable speaking with you, approach the subject of gossip. Discuss what is being said about the student and any possible solutions.
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Contact the parents of the student. Inform the parents of the situation at school. Schedule a conference with the parents and the student, as well as the school principal. Together, try and get to the root of the problem and figure out where the rumor started.
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Tips & Warnings
Enforce "no gossiping" rules at your school. If you hear gossip, hand out detentions and get the parents involved. Do not hesitate to fix the problem. Waiting to fix gossip problems potentially leads to a worse situation.
Never let students get away with harmful, hurtful or malicious gossip. Do not take verbal threats lightly. Immediately work to resolve the problem.
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