AVA-CASA and Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center Unite Against Bullying!

AVA-CASA and Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center Unite Against Bullying!

UNITY DAY 2013 — Wednesday, Oct. 9

 

The End of Bullying Begins with Me: that’s the message during PACER and AVA-CASA’s National Bullying Prevention Month in October.

 

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Here are some facts: -More than 160,000 U.S. students stay home from school each day from fear of being bullied. Bullying directly affects a student’s ability to learn. Students who are bullied find it difficult to concentrate, show a decline in grades, and lose self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-worth.  Students who are bullied report more physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches, and mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, than other students.  In some cases, bullying has led to devastating consequences, such as school shootings and suicide.  Bullying affects witnesses as well as targets. Witnesses often report feeling unsafe, helpless, and afraid that they will be the next target.

 

Bullying is a community wide issue that must no longer be ignored or thought of as a rite of passage. Students, parents, and educators all have a role in addressing bullying situations and changing school culture.

 

The two keys to creating change are: increasing awareness that bullying has lifelong impact, and giving people the tools they need to respond effectively.  Students can be especially effective in bullying intervention. More than 55 percent of bullying situations will stop when a peer intervenes. Student education of how to address bullying for peers is critical, as is the support of adults. 

What are your true colors when it comes to bullying? If you care about students who are bullied and want bullying to end, make your color ORANGE on Unity Day, Wednesday, Oct. 9. That’s the day everyone can link together—in schools, communities and online—and send one large, ORANGE message of support to students who have experienced bullying.

 

Silence is no longer an acceptable response to bullying. Adults, students, and educators can no longer look away when they see bullying. Ignoring it won’t work. Everyone needs to be empowered with options to respond. Remember, the end to bullying begins with me- and YOU.

 

For more information, please visit Pacer’s website at: www.pacer.org and AVA-CASA at www.humboldtava.com