Sharing an hour commute with my two Vice Principal colleagues has arguable been the best professional development I have experienced. The week / term ahead is always discussed and most return journeys focus on the decisions of the day, “washed-up,” challenged and second opinions offered. One topic is a regular debate is how we best support our vulnerable students when not in class. I have learnt so much from my colleagues and occasional post reflections here, this time however, the idea cam from our Key Stage 4 Assistance Principal.
The task – to write an opinion piece to respond to the question, ‘What can we do to prevent bullying in schools?’ From a shortlist of 30 entries the following quotes were shared.
‘Isolation, or suspension won’t do anything…will make them madder, causing them to bully more people’.
‘Hurt people hurt people….want to take their anger out on someone else, hurting someone else so they feel good themself.’
‘If I was a parent or carer I would hate for my child to be bullied because I feel like it’s my duty to help my child and tell him/her that I love them.’
‘Even though I 100% do not agree with bullies or bullying at all, I still think we are all the same so we should treat every single person on the earth the same no matter what they have done in the past.’
‘Schools should educate students on what bullying is…it is important for students to know where they can go for help.’
‘If they keep it bottled up they will get worried…won’t eat or sleep properly and they might start making themselves ill.’
Whatever you views of the comments, I think they provide real insight into how young people perceive the issue of bullying and bullies.
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