curricular approaches to bullying
The curriculum can be used to:
- raise awareness about bullying and the anti-bullying policy
- increase understanding for victims, and help build an anti-bullying
ethos
- teach pupils how constructively to manage their relationships with
others
Through the curriculum it is possible to explore such issues
as:
- why do people bully each other?
- what are the effects of bullying on the bullied, on bullies, and on
bystanders?
- what can we do to stop bullying?
There are now many videos that illustrate bullying, for example Sticks and Stones
(secondary) and The Trouble with Tom
(primary). Pupils can explore different characters’
perspectives and suggest anti-bullying strategies.
Many local theatre-in-education groups present workshops, exploring
bullying in depth and rehearsing preventive strategies.
Some of the many resources available are:
- the video Only Playing, Miss
(disability and ethnicity)
- The Heartstone Odyssey
, a book with associated training and dance workshops (racist
threats and violence)
- interactive CD-ROMs
exploring bullying, posing dilemmas and enabling pupils to try out
alternative solutions and see the outcomes of their choices
After using selected materials, up to 60% of primary and secondary
pupils said they were more careful in their behaviour towards their
peers. Bullied pupils said they were less scared and more likely to
tell someone. Others were more likely to support someone being
bullied. Racially-harassed pupils said that through studying the Heartstone
Odyssey
, friends had begun to talk about their experiences. Bullying
dropped by about 60% when such materials were used for 30-60
minutes each week for at least one term. However, without continued
re-inforcement it resumed within two weeks.
Care must be taken to include SEN (Special Educational Needs)
pupils in curriculum work about bullying in an appropriate way for
their individual needs.
|
