Anti-Bullying Week aims to raise awareness of bullying and highlight ways of preventing or responding to it. It is an annual UK event held in the third week of November and this year it runs from 15 to 19 of November. The Anti-Bullying Alliance (please add hyperlink: https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/) in England and Wales are the official organisers of the annual event and their efforts include a range of engaging tools and activities to support schools in eliminating hurtful behaviour. The campaign has been building momentum not just among teachers, parents and students, whom it is meant to support, but from the broader community that understands how harmful bullying can be for everyone involved. We stand with these groups and many others who wish to see an end to any activity that makes young people feel unwelcomed in or out of the classroom.
Every child deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. This contributes to a sense of self-worth which is crucial for all individuals in society to flourish. Although anyone can be the target of bullying, those who appear to be different – for example disabled children and young people, those from different ethnic backgrounds or those with diverse sexual orientation – are sometimes treated in ways which challenge their sense of self-worth.
Our role as educators is to protect our pupils from the damaging effects of bullying and educate everyone away from prejudice. After all, some behaviours which are called “bullying” in schools would be categorised as “hate crime” if they happened in other spaces.
We offer resources(please add link to: http://www.csie.org.uk/resources/current.shtml) and training (please link to: http://www.csie.org.uk/training/) to help schools address prejudice, reduce bullying and promote equality holistically. Many of our resources are also available digitally from our online shop(with link to https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/CSIE please) which includes free downloadable resources.
Bullying is categorised as harmful action that can take many forms and can have long-lasting effects. Activities ranging from verbal threats like teasing, taunting or unwanted sexual comments to excluding someone by embarrassing them or spreading rumors, or through overt physical abuse such as spitting, hitting or making rude gestures are all types of bullying. These behaviours can happen in a public setting, but have been taking place more often online as we become electronically connected. Any and all aggressive and repetitive behaviour that makes someone feel undervalued or outcast is linked with creating mental health issues that are likely to be carried on into adulthood.
Research has suggested that not only do many young people struggle with being bullied, but that there is a link between bullying and declining mental health among children, especially for those aged between 11-16 years old. In July 2021 the Early Intervention Foundation published a report (please add link to: https://www.eif.org.uk/report/adolescent-mental-health-a-systematic-review-on-the-effectiveness-of-school-based-interventions) on ‘Adolescent mental health: A systematic review on the effectiveness of school-based interventions’, which presented key findings related to bullying. On a hopeful note, the report found that interventions which focused on improving emotional, behavioural and social skills have proved effective in preventing instances of bullying. It is our belief that through consistent self-inquiry, training and maintaining dialogue through properly equipped education, campaigns such as Anti-Bullying Week will continue to raise awareness about the harmful effects of bullying, and give young people empowering tools to learn and explore in a safe environment.
The theme for this year’s Anti-Bullying Week is “One Kind Word.” The words we use can be powerful and can have a significant impact on those who hear them. Taking more care in what we say, as well as how we say it, can make a big difference to those we interact with. After another year of disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, each of us has had to deal with its impact on our lives and on our mental health. Whether our interactions are online or in person, One Kind Word can help us all reconnect and bring joy, care and acceptance into our learning environments.
