STRENGTHENING CHARACTER EDUCATION VALUES IN PREVENTING BULLYING BEHAVIOR OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

Abstract

There are 18 values offered by Ministry of Education to develop cultural national character education at school in Indonesia. However, the values of character education are now being to fade, which is likely to be the cause of the rampant bullying behavior. The phenomenon of bullying is quite often reported by the media, especially on social media. This research is based on the community services aimed to strength character education values in preventing bullying behavior especially for elementary student.  There were two partner of this community services, the first one was Desa Pendidikan located in PAUD Cempaka RT 06 RW 03, Rawamangun.  While the other was Taman Pintar in Jalan Waringin Raya No.25, Kayu Putih Village, Pulogadung Sub-District, East Jakarta. The procedure conducted for this research began by giving explanation about what bullying is. Then the research participants were given workshop about values of character education.  All materials were delivered using language and methods which can be understood by the children as the workshop participants as well as using storyteller. The participants were also given explanation on what to do if they were victims of bullying. The materials in this workshop were delivered to older people, especially parents and teachers. Based on two workshop conducted in two community services partners, it can be concluded that bullying behavior often occurs among children,  they only do not know the term. Participants of the workshops experienced the act of bullying both verbally and physically, however, they did not know what to do when they experienced it. This study offers some suggestions to avoid children from conducting or experiencing bullying, those are: children need to be equipped with character education values to deal with bullying behavior both formally through study material in schools and informally through workshops such as conducting community services in an interesting way, using fairy tales, movies or games.

Keywords: Character Value Values, Bullying