From the Bullying Awareness Week mission statement:
Research has shown us that approximately 15% of a given population in a school or workplace are directly involved with bullying, that leaves 85% as potential bystanders or silent majority. This group is the primary focus and target audience for Bullying Awareness Week.
The Week also has youth as a primary focus, as they are the ones who can "Be the change", and grow up thinking differently about bullying unlike many in previous generations who have attitudes about bullying as a "Rite of passage" or even that "Being bullied is good for you, it toughens you up."
Bullying isn’t just a problem in high schools and primary schools. It can happen anywhere from the playground, to the office, and even online. Cyber-bullying, though it doesn’t involve direct physical harm, can be the most traumatic type of bullying for children and adults. Because cyber-bullying is ongoing, and involves technology like computers and cell phones, it is harder for victims to find a safe place to go.
In Canada, we mark bullying awareness in February with Pink Shirt Day. Like other awareness events, Pink Shirt Day helps to create a dialogue about an issue that is often overlooked, ignored and even avoided. The theme was created quite by accident, by two Nova Scotia high school students that stood up to bullying and inspired others to do the same.
Their story, and the message it contains, even made international news:
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It seems like a million years ago now, but back in 2008, I shared a pink necklace that I created to wear in lieu of a pink shirt. It worked better than I had hoped, and I was able to bring up the subject of bullying awareness throughout the whole day.
Since I’ve been thinking pink all this week, I decided to use it for the palette of today’s necklace. I paired up some pretty rosaline fire polish with pink pinch bicones to start, and added some all pink beaded flowers. I wanted a nice color to contrast with the pink, and found some beautiful golden Swarovski pearls in my stash. So I finished off the palette with champagne colored beads in gold and topaz, with a hint of pearl white.
Why not make your own pink jewelry design, and try to spark up conversations about bullying awareness and prevention this weekend?
Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this important and timely post.
As a parent, educator and the founder of the annual National Bullying Awareness Week, I would like to share four Websites I have created that seek to prevent bullying through education and awareness. I hope that they may be of help, information and support to others.
http://www.bullying.org
The world's most visited and referenced Website about bullying
http://www.cyberbullying.ca
The world's first Website about cyberbullying
http://www.bullyingawarenessweek.org
The official Website of the annual Bullying Awareness Week
http://www.bullyingcourse.com
Offering research-based, Moodle-supported online courses and Webinars about bullying and cyberbullying for educators and parents.
Here is some information about my background as it relates to this issue:
http://is.gd/e3AnJ
I hope that you and your community will find help, information and support with these educational resources I have created.
Sincerely,
Bill Belsey
President,
Bullying.org Canada
"Where you are NOT alone!"
e-mail: help@bullying.org
Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Bullying_org
Thank you so much for stopping by, Bill! And thanks also for all that you do. Keep up the great work!
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