THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Anti Bully Week 12th Nov – 16th Nov 2018

What does the word ‘bullying’ mean to you? Bullying is the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. © SpeedKingz/Shutterstock.com Ask pupils to think about what they think ‘bullying’ is. Explain that bullying isn’t always physical and doesn’t always happen face-to-face. Point out that bullying often happens online or via a mobile phone. Explain that bullying can be as simple as just ignoring someone. You could even use the ABA definition of bullying: the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power.

Do you think bullying happens a lot? A survey of over 11,000 secondary pupils in England and Wales reported that 11% said they had been bullied a lot and 33% sometimes. Of those bullied, 88% reported it happening in school, also 31% out of school, 15% in cyberspace, 13% on a mobile phone, and 15% on the journey to/from school. © MoQcCa/Shutterstock.com Once the title of the slide has loaded, ask the pupils to consider whether or not they think bullying is common. Then click to reveal the statistics. Put emphasis on the role of the internet, social media and mobile phones in bullying.

Why does bullying happen? Bullying is often a result of prejudice. Prejudice can take many forms, including: Sexual/sexist Homophobic Targeted at race and/or faith Disablist © MoQcCa/Shutterstock.com Explain that prejudice-based bullying can come in many forms: Sexist: Sexist and sexually aggressive behaviour is a major form of bullying. This often includes unwanted physical touch, name calling and spreading rumours. Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic: An intolerance of a person’s sexuality or perceived sexuality can lead to bullying. People are also bullied because they are not seen to conform to ‘gender norms’ (i.e. how society says a boy or girl should behave’). Race and faith targeted bullying: Bullying targeted at someone’s actual or perceived race, or their faith as in Islamophobia, is common. Disability: A recent study has shown that at 7 and at 15 years, disabled children and those with special educational needs (SEN) are around twice as likely to be bullied than their non-disabled peers. Explain to the pupils that a significant amount of bullying behaviour is targeted at real or perceived difference. Emphasise that these differences are what make us unique as individuals. They should be respected and celebrated.

What are the effects of bullying? Low self-esteem Overeating, anorexia Depression Lower grades Difficulty in forming personal relationships Share the following statistics: According to an ABA poll, nearly half (44%) of young people who were bullied at school say it impacted on their mental health and that they experienced issues such as anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Over half (57%) of the 16-25 year olds who said they were bullied reported that this changed their behaviour and the way they felt, such as feeling angry or withdrawn; and just under half (43%) said they experienced body image anxieties. While a third (34%) avoided school or college as a way of coping with bullying. Nearly half (46%) said that being bullied has had a long lasting effect on their self-esteem and confidence since leaving school and almost 37% of those bullied said it had had a negative effect on their ability to form relationships. Explain that in the end bullying doesn’t only have an effect on the victims, it also has a long-lasting effect on the people doing the bullying. They often fail to develop the social skills of sharing, empathising and negotiating that form the basis for lasting friendships. As they mature into adulthood, children who have bullied others often show higher rates of aggression and antisocial behaviour. They’re more likely to be convicted of an offence, to drop out of education and more likely to suffer from depression.

What can we do to prevent bullying? Take action! How do we deal with bullying in our school? What should you do if you see someone being bullied or suspect that bullying is taking place? Image © Shutterstock.com/AnnaKutanova How can we put a stop to bullying? Stress that it is important to be kind to yourself and kind to others. Do things that make you feel good, and help you to relax and make new friends. Remember you don’t have to be everyone’s friend, but it’s important to be respect everyone and be kind. If you do something wrong, remember to say sorry, and make sure you always treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. As we saw in the video, we all have the power to make or break someone’s day by what we say, or how we make them feel. How can you use your Power for Good to stop bullying? Ask pupils to think about how they might use their Power for Good.

How can the Government try to reduce these frightening figures? Each week TFTD will look at a recent news article which effects you as students and members of society. If you have any suggestions or read any relevant or interesting articles, please speak to Mrs Richards to get them included. Reality Check: Are more teenagers carrying knives? In March 2007, following a wave of fatal stabbings of teenage boys and young men in London and Manchester, the government announced that knife crime would be officially recorded in England and Wales in a way it had never been done before. The graph shows trends over recent years. Until around 2014, knife crime, as with overall violence, appeared to be on the decline – that is now changing….but why? Since 2014 police forces have been logging more violent offences. Some of that is due to better recording methods - but among the most serious types of violence there has been a genuine increase. Worryingly, the involvement of young people in knife crime seems to be growing, confirming evidence that more boys (and girls) are carrying weapons, being drawn into gangs and exploited by drug dealers. Ten-to-17-year-olds represent roughly 20% of those cautioned or convicted of knife offences - that's possession of a knife or threatening someone with one. Most in that age group caught with a knife receive a community sentence or warning. One in eight is sentenced to a spell in youth custody. The Office for National Statistics is responsible for the Crime Survey of England and Wales, which estimates crime trends from a sample of 34,000 people aged between 16 and 64. The results indicate that the majority of violent incidents involving children aged 10-15 occur around schools, in daylight - and 81% lead to injury. Around 8% resulted in serious injury. Legislation banning people from carrying knives without good reason dates back 65 years. The maximum sentence is a four-year jail term. Do you know the laws related to knives and what happens if you get caught carrying one? How can the Government try to reduce these frightening figures?