Scholar Liam urges schools and clubs to ‘stand up to bullying’
KILDORRERY student Liam Drake met with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney this week to ‘stand up to bullying’ in schools and clubs in Munster and across the country.
Together, the duo launched the ISPCC’s Shield Week and called on schools, teachers, parents and pupils to ensure they stand up against bullying by taking part in the Shield Programme 2017-18.
Bullying can have a devastating impact on the victim, which can last a lifetime. Childline, run by national child protection charity ISPCC, last year dealt with over 6,000 calls from children affected by bullying.
The Shield Programme, developed by the ISPCC, provides schools and clubs with the resources and tools they need to tackle bullying effectively. Shield’s four elements- the self-evaluation, the Shield Youth Award, the Shield Flag and the Standing Up Online Form - all support teachers and students to work together and take action to make their school a better place.
ISPCC Anti-Bullying Co- Ordinator Helen Mortimer encouraged pre-primary, primary and post-primary schools and clubs throughout Munster to register to take part in the Shield Programme.
She said: “We know that schools need support to combat bullying. The Shield Programme is an effective, evidence-informed programme that supports schools to achieve this goal and helps to ensure that children and young people are protected and ‘shielded’ from bullying. It is proven to be effective and we’d like to see more schools taking it on as a priority.”
She said: “Many children and young people are struggling every day to cope with bullying in the classroom, the schoolyard, on the internet and within communities. The Childline service receives thousands of calls every year from children impacted by bullying. This summer, homophobic bullying was referenced by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as a priority that needs addressing.”
It was her view that Tte Shield Programme is an ideal and free resource, to help schools, clubs and other organisations to tackle bullying.
“The steps are simple and effective and using the talents of everyone involved is the key to making this happen,” she said.
She also said that schools across Munster have already pledged their commitment to stand up to bullying by taking part in the Shield Programme.
The ISPCC will help any school who are interested in taking on the Shield Programme and can contact them directly on shield@ispcc.ie