Non-Physical Bullying in Schools on the Rise, Character Education Under Scrutiny

Non-physical bullying in schools has increasingly drawn public attention as reports of verbal abuse, social exclusion, name-calling, and psychological pressure continue to emerge. Although this form of bullying is often invisible, its impact on children’s emotional and psychological well-being is significant. Many victims experience a decline in self-confidence, heightened anxiety, and reluctance to engage in school activities or social interactions.

This phenomenon frequently occurs repeatedly and is often perceived as a normal part of peer interaction. Hurtful jokes, negative labeling, and deliberate exclusion are sometimes dismissed as harmless behavior. In reality, such actions can create an unsafe and uncomfortable learning environment, particularly for children who are more introverted or perceived as different from their peers.

Amid the growing concern over non-physical bullying, character education has come under scrutiny as a crucial preventive approach. Character education is believed to play an important role in fostering empathy, mutual respect, and social awareness from an early age. Through consistent practice of positive behavior in daily learning activities, children are guided to understand how their words and actions affect the feelings of others.

However, the implementation of character education in schools still faces several challenges. In many cases, character education remains limited to concepts and slogans rather than being embedded in everyday interactions. In addition, heavy administrative workloads often limit teachers’ capacity to focus on nurturing students’ social and emotional development within the classroom.

Therefore, a collective commitment from schools, teachers, and parents is essential to make character education an integral part of school culture. A learning environment that is safe, supportive, and respectful of every child must be built consistently to reduce non-physical bullying. Through sustained character education, schools are expected to become spaces that not only promote academic achievement but also nurture empathetic and well-rounded individuals.