And kids bring it to school. Norway's Olweus suggests that some bullying comes from teachers who use sarcasm as a teaching tool. Shakeshaft believes teachers are culpable in other ways, as well. When teachers turn a blind eye, she says, students get confused. Kids would say, 'I know I'm not supposed to feel bad because it's only a joke.
Some teachers inadvertently reinforce bullying behavior in other ways.
Stein tells a story about a school that Wellesley researchers studied. Typically during recess, the boys played with balls, and the girls jumped rope. One week, the boys decided it would be more fun to steal the girls' jump ropes. The girls complained but were told to work out their dispute with the boys. After listening to the children fight for a week, the teachers banned the jump ropes, depriving the girls of their only plaything.