No Name-calling Week Is Coming

If you are a teacher or a student, you might find this especially interesting. I just learned of the project which was first done in 2004. This year the week of January 25-29 is dedicated as No Name-calling Week in schools all across the country.

You can learn more about the project and what you can do in your school by clicking here.


I know name-calling and bullying are huge issues in schools, and have been for a long time. I am glad to see an organized effort is taking place in American schools to combat the problem. I posted a bullying piece on January 17, 2008 you can read by clicking here. The numbers are truly amazing!

Check out their website and see if there is anything you can do in your school to help address name-calling, bullying, mean emails and aggressive behavior.

Here is another great website full of definitions, games, webisodes, ideas on how to address the issue of bullying and much more for people of all ages. Just click here to check out the Stop Bullying Now website.

As always, I look forward to your comments.

Later,

Mike

Pink Shirt Day Is Coming

In my January 17, 2008 post, I discussed bullying in schools, how pervasive it is and some of the damaging effects it can have on the victims. You can read it by clicking here.

Today, I want to introduce you to Pink Shirt Day 2009. In an effort to help raise the awareness of bullying in our schools, workplaces, homes and over the Internet, Christy Clark is promoting the idea of Pink Shirt Day on her radio show and through their website. It will be held on February 25th and you can learn more about the day, and how to take part in the event by clicking here.


The cool thing about Pink Shirt Day is it was started by two high school students who had an idea on how to stop some bullies from bullying a ninth grade student. David Sheppard and Travis Price have shown us once again how two people with a good idea can make a big difference.

I encourage you to read about it and see if you want to do something in your school or workplace on February 25th.

I'd be curious to know what you decide. If you have any ideas about how to participate, please feel free to share them.

I look forward to your comments.

Later,

Mike

Bullying in Schools

"Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me." We've all heard it, and we all know it's not true. Yet, bullying has become a HUGE issue in schools across the country. In fact, it is such a concern, some schools have instituted anti-bullying campaigns. I was in one such school on January 7th.

Little Chute Middle School in Little Chute, Wisconsin had me spend the day to help kick-off a week-long program to eliminate bullying in their school. Based on the conversations I had that day with both teachers and students, and the emails I received from several students, they are off to a good start.

I found these statistics startling and I think you'll agree:

(Click on image to enlarge.)

In one of my classroom visits that day, I asked the class to raise their hand if they have been bullied, and the vast majority raised their hands. The same response was true when I asked them if they had ever bullied anyone. Even the teacher raised his hand to both questions!

The old adage "Boys will be boys," doesn't cut it any more. In fact, it's not just boys doing the bulling these days. Some researchers are finding girls to be just as big a problem when it comes to being both the bully and the person being mistreated.

Here's a very informative article on Girls Bullying Girls. Check it out. It introduces us to the phrase "relational aggression." This article is based on a longer article written by Marina Skowronski.

The last piece I'd like to take you to is Bob Chase's column dated 3/25/01, the President of the National Education Association in Washington, D.C. He offers some insight into what needs to be done to help curtail the problem.

Bullying is a problem young people are coping with and they need direction. We, as parents, teachers and concerned adults need to help them however we can. If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment. Thank you in advance.