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October is National Bullying Prevention Month
Special to The Truth
With children back in
their school routines, October is the perfect time for local
communities nationwide to unite to raise awareness of
bullying prevention through education, outreach and
activities. This is the message from the organizers behind
National Bullying Prevention Month, which occurs each
October.
What was once historically
viewed as “a childhood rite of passage” is no longer the
case, as far from “making kids tougher,” bullying can result
in such demoralizing effects as anxiety, self-esteem-loss,
depression and school avoidance -- and even lead to physical
injury or worse.
The special month has its
roots in a week-long campaign by the PACER Center, an
organization that assists young people with disabilities. It
has since expanded to a month-long initiative to combat
bullying, and is recognized in communities across the
country, with hundreds and hundreds of schools and
organizations contributing as partners. |
Mt. Nebo’s 85 Ushers anniversary with
(clockwise from bottom right)
Sr Betty Williams, Br Edward Sanders, Pastor Andrew Maize
and Pastor Cedric Brock |
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This year, such
celebrities as Lea Michelle, Zachary Quinto, Emma Roberts,
Robin Roberts and others have taped special videos to
campaign to stop bullying. More details are available at
www.stompoutbullying.org, where students can share their own
anti-bullying videos, as well. Other organizations, like The
Kind Campaign, are pitching in with school programs and
assemblies. Information is about The Kind Campaign is
available for parents, students and educators at
www.kindcampaign.com.
PACER, which developed the
initial National Bullying Prevention and Awareness campaign
back in 2006, has gone on to forge partnerships with such
education organizations as the American Federation of
Teachers, the National Education Association and the
National PTA. To help individuals and communities respond to
bullying, PACER is providing free resources for schools,
parents and students at www.pacer.org/bullying.
Of course, all the
anti-bullying resources can be used beyond the month of
October, urge experts, to help inspire, educate and
encourage people to better deal with and prevent bullying
year-round.
Courtesy StatePoint
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