There must be clear guidelines that stipulate the responsibilities teaching staff have when dealing with a case of bullying. Everyone needs to accept that his or her classroom must be a safe, supportive environment where bad behaviour is not tolerated and bullying is recognised, publicly condemned and dealt with. Many teachers and schools find it helpful to develop clear statements of what is appropriate behaviour in the classroom. This may be in the form of a school-wide Code of Conduct or in an individual classroom or school statement. Because victims can be passive and withdrawn, others need to tell when they see bullying.
Good teachers encourage the 'telling of tales'.
They develop mechanisms to ensure that their pupils can report bad behaviour without fear of retribution or being chastised for telling tales. Look for the reasons for this. Work with the victim to stop the offending behaviour. Not tell the victim to ignore it, to sort it out themselves or to hit back. Teachers must recognise that a safe classroom is the most effective way of developing a positive learning environment.