Take a Stand Against Bullying
“Strong people stand up for themselves. But the strongest people stand up for others.”
Dr Anne Brown
Children’s social and emotional wellbeing — how they think and feel about themselves and others, and deal with daily challenges — is just one component of mental health and wellbeing. Socially and emotionally competent children:
- are confident
- have good relationships
- communicate well
- do better at school
- take on and persist with challenging tasks
- develop the necessary relationships to succeed in life.
Australian children are healthy, safe and doing well. However, childhood is also a time of vulnerability and a child’s outcomes can vary depending on where they live and their family’s circumstances. I read with interest the highlights from the report Australia’s children: in brief, which brings together a range of data on children’s wellbeing and their experiences at home, school and in the community.
Overall, the key findings highlight —
- Data from the Longitudinal (LSAC) in 2016 shows that seven in ten children aged twelve to thirteen experienced at least one bullying-like behaviour within a year.
- According to the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2015, one in five Year 4 students experience bullying on a weekly basis.
- One in four children aged eight to twelve who completed the eSafety Commissioner’s Youth Digital Participation Survey showed experienced unwanted contact and content while online.
- Data from LSAC in 2016 found that almost half (46%) of children aged twelve to thirteen who experienced at least one bullying-like behaviour within a year also used bullying-like behaviours against another child.
Bullying included being ignored, being teased, having lies told about them, and people ganging up on them. All are unacceptable behaviours.
Over recent weeks, I have met with scholarship candidates via the online or face-to-face meeting mode. One Year 6 student impressed me with her response to the question “Tell me about a time when you have shown consideration to others?”
She immediately replied “If someone is being bullied, I stand up for them”.
With curiosity, I asked “How do you do this?”
She said “I do the HIGH FIVE”, holding her hand up to the screen to indicate what she meant by the High Five.
As our Somerville girls are taught, she explained the High Five, with various options to approach bullying behaviour and each finger being dedicated (in order) to:
- Ignore
- Talk Friendly
- Walk Away
- Talk Firmly
- Report
I really admired this Year 6 student for being an Upstander. She clearly showed that she is prepared to take action and do something about bullying.
It is being a “bullying bystander” that I wish to talk about in this week’s newsletter. Bystanders are children and adults who are aware of bullying and cyberbullying, who stand by and watch… and WHO DO AND SAY NOTHING.
This is unacceptable.
Very often bystanders don’t know what to do. They’re afraid of retaliation or fear that their peers will exclude them for helping an outsider. When you’re a bystander it’s important to know that by doing nothing you are sending a message to the bully that their behaviour is acceptable. It isn’t!
I believe that it is important for adults to role model to our children. I acknowledge it is scary to directly confront a bully and sometimes it can mean taking a big risk.
I share these closing thoughts on the benefits of being an Upstander.
Being an Upstander:
- Takes courage - Telling a person who is bullying to stop is hard. They may be mad at you. But at least you won't feel guilt for being silent and allowing the bullying to continue. And you will be doing that person a huge favour in the end by helping them stop really hurtful behaviour.
- Takes action - Doing something that does not support the bullying can be a really small intervention with big results! Two words - "That's bullying" - can open others eyes to recognize the problem.
- Takes assertiveness - Telling a friend how their behaviour makes you feel and how it affects others requires being able to use your voice!
- Takes compassion - Upstanders have the gift of compassion. They recognize when someone is hurt and take steps to help.
- Takes leadership - Upstanders are leaders in their social group, helping others to recognize ways to get along and be supportive to others.
In life, bullying does happen and we need to know that it is unacceptable. We all have a responsibility to do the High Five and call out bullying actions and bullying behaviour.
Anti-Bullying Policy
We are committed to creating a supportive school environment and it is appropriate we take time to pause and reflect on just what it means to be a community, the way we deal with and treat each other and the examples of tolerance, compassion, justice and service as lived by Christ. Our Anti-Bullying Policy helps us educate students and provide pastoral care to ensure their well-being. It is important that everyone in our school community understands that there are different types of bullying that can threaten the health and safety of students, bolstering the message that bullying and violence are never okay. It is also important to educate students about what to do if they need help.
With two consecutive long weekends, I am mindful that our students and staff have busy schedules, with our focus on the teaching and learning priority, in conjunction with the co-curricular program. Thank you to all staff for the effort invested in the academic program and co-curricular activities that contribute to a wonderful student experience.
Mrs Kim Kiepe
Principal