October is Bullying Prevention Month. During this month, we educate, raise awareness, and take action against bullying. Bullying prevention emphasizes the importance of feeling safe and supported and acting with kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. The month is dedicated to promoting dialogue between educators, parents, and students on their roles in addressing and preventing bullying.

In 2006, the Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (PACER) National Bullying Prevention Center set out to change the mindset that bullying is just a part of growing up or something every youth has to go through.  Living in this Information Age, the impact of bullying is ever more apparent as students must learn to navigate the social realities of the in-person world and social media world.  Our message to them is that no one deserves to be bullied and all students deserve to feel safe and supported! 

Bullying is a community-wide issue.  More than 1 out of every 5 students will be bullied this year.  Bullying directly affects students' ability to learn — they may no longer want to go to school, they may find it difficult to concentrate, and they may suffer a decline in grades.  Bullying may cause physical symptoms like stomachaches and mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.  On a deeper level, bullying causes students to lose their sense of self.  At its worst, bullying can be a reason leading to school violence and self-harm. 

Bullying affects the student who is targeted, witnesses who may feel helpless and afraid, and the person doing the bullying.  This is why it's important to change our mindset about bullying; while it may be looked at as just devastating while it is happening, the negative effects of bullying can last all of us a lifetime. 

Because of this, we all have a role to play.  Students can be especially effective at bullying intervention — adults must encourage young people to be supportive of those experiencing bullying and students must be educated on how to advocate for themselves and others.  One solution is OK2SAY, a student safety program that allows anyone to confidentially report tips on potential harm, bullying, and/or criminal activities directed at students, school staff, or schools.   

We are united by the principle that bullying is never acceptable. We encourage students and staff to wear orange throughout the month to show our community and anyone being bullied that they are not alone and inspire others to speak and reach out. Join our mission on Unity Day, Wednesday, Oct. 18, by wearing and sharing orange to unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion!

Bullying Prevention Resources