Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a vow to Stand Up Against Bullying

St. Patrick’s Day 2012 is upon us so I decided to google Irish Bullying tips.
What I learned was shocking.
25 per cent of Irish students in Irish secondary schools are bullied according to the website bully4u dot ie. One in four or 175,000 youth in Irish high schools are victims of bullying. The website states: “the evolution of modern communication technologies combined with the increasing integration of our multicultural society has led to such new dynamics as cyberbullying and racist bullying in addition to the more traditional forms.”

The site goes on to encourage adult intervention in bullying incidents. It tells us that it is important for adults to let students know that aggressive behaviour is inappropriate. “Whether you are a bystander, parent or schoolteacher, there are steps you can take to ensure that children are kept safe and that their dignity is respected.”

As we celebrate St. Patrick’s day around the world, make a vow to ‘Stand Up Against Bullying’ and make a difference by empowering yourself and others to act against bullying behaviour.

Bruce Langford is an international speaker and anti-bullying advocate
www.BruceLangford.ca   www.StandUpAgainstBullying.com

 

 

 

Bullying Tips on a Multi-Cultural Theme

Bruce Langford at Williamsburg School in Kitchener Ontario

Encourage your child to be open to all cultures and ethnicity. If we, as adults model this behaviour, our children will come by it honestly. Read stories set in many different locations around the world. Make a point of learning about cultures you are not familiar with. Take part in cultural festivals with your family whenever possible. The examples you set will serve your children for a lifetime.
Williamsburg Public School in Kitchener Ontario sets these examples using Tribes teaching as a tool for teachers and children. I (Bruce Langford) visited Williamsburg School yesterday to present our ‘Stand Up Against Bullying’ and ‘Stand Up – Keep Your Kids’ programs. We welcomed over 200 people in the evening talk about bullying and cyber-bullying tips. Principal Fran Oppertshauser encouraged us by agreeing to be a reference for our school assemblies. 

Arrange for excellent anti-bullying school assemblies by Stand Up Now Productions with presenter Bruce Langford. Phone Stand Up Now at 1-800-901-8831 or e-mail at bruce@standupnow.ca  Website: www.standupnow.ca

Celebrate ALL Cultures on St. Patrick’s Day!

A poll carried out the last week of January, 2010 of about 1500 Canadian adults revealed that 68% have heard racist comments in the past year and 31% have witnessed a racist incident in the past year.
People aged 18-24 are reported to be most likely to report racism and the majority of people in this same age group have the positive belief that racism is declining. (Racism in Canada -Leger Marketing Poll)
Racism can definitely contribute to bullying behaviours. Help stamp out racism. Here’s how:

Speak up. Be willing to report. Be willing to speak against racist jokes or racial slurs. Be sure to set the best examples possible for others. Try to be non-confrontational in your approach, but be confident and secure. Create an image in your mind of a world without racism and believe it can happen. 

Today is St. Patrick’s day. Celebrate the Irish, but celebrate all cultures of the world by setting a positive example for others.
Our youth are highly influenced by the behaviours of the rest of us. Every one of us must take the stand – Stand Up Against Racism!
http://www.atfm.ca/