Social Issues Day was an enlightening and exciting day!! I enjoyed very much the workshops, which I attended. As there were many interesting issues addressed that day, I would have liked to have been able to attend all workshops presented.
Out of the three workshops, which I attended, Girl Bullying, facilitated by Zopito Marini was the most impressive. I selected this workshop because I recognize this as a very serious issue that needs to be addressed in the schools. Early signs of bullying need to be corrected from the start. If not corrected, this behaviour will carry forward into the individual’s adult life. A victim may be terrorized to the extent where the individual feels that the only route of escape is through suicide, as seen in the case of Dawn-Marie Wesley, 14 in B.C.
Although I still feel not completely prepared on how to tackle the topic of bullying in the schools, I am now more aware of the signs and problems that surround this issue. I plan to strongly instill in my students the understanding that no aspect of an individual’s identity is acceptable as a target of teasing or exclusion. Students need to be taught in a way that will grow them into becoming model citizens. In fact, playing the role of a ‘bystander’ is equally as bad as being a ‘bully’. It is essential that students become aware of their responsibility of intervening and telling the bully to stop, otherwise, the role of a ‘bystander’ adds to the power of the bully.
As part of preparing myself to become a teacher, I plan to further educate myself in this area of ‘bullies’ and the circumstances which create this problem. In discussing this topic with a colleague, I was recommended to read the book Queen Bees & Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends & Other Realities of Adolescence by Rosalind Wiseman. I have placed reading this book on my priority list.
Social Issues Day was so enjoyable that if given the opportunity to attend a second Social Issues Day in the second semester, I would.
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3 comments:
Hey Pam:
About bullying: from Jane..."It's a Girl's World" - CBC series on bullying that was aired on Oct.7. From what I have read it is pretty good. I hope you could get it.
Ana K.
(aka MayaTheBee)
It's amazing how young this nasty behaviour starts. I feel that addressing this behaviour immediately and consistently in the primary/junior age group is imperative for the protection of our students. I would be interested in any tips that the presenter may have shared as it sounds like it was a great workshop.
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