Involving the wider community
Bullying is not just a personal predicament. It is everyone's problem, and it has serious implications for the community as a whole. When schools form effective partnerships with parents and the wider community to implement and maintain anti-bullying and anti-violence initiatives, the outcomes are always more positive. Some ideas that can assist...
Anti-bullying committee
Include representatives of the wider community on planning committees to find out what's happening in your school, what the community needs - and how to support students, teachers and parents.
Celebrations
Invite the community to contribute to and participate in activities that celebrate diversity and promote inclusion. Inclusion benefits all children by helping them to understand and appreciate that the world is big, that people are different, and that we can work together to find solutions that work for everyone.
Local support agencies
Establish a 'one-stop shop' where government and nongovernment support agencies are available at the school to meet the educational and social support needs of students and their families. The school provides facilities and resources to enable and encourage them to operate from the school. Examples include: youth and family support, accommodation, alcohol and drug services, counseling support, training groups and programs, domestic violence, sexual health, crime prevention,chaplaincy and various government agencies.
Respected elders
Engage a community liaison officer with knowledge of the diverse families and cultures within the school community to be the first point of contact for parents who have a concern and who are not confident about coming into the school. This person is available to parents, students and staff when understanding of issues of cultural significance is required to get to the bottom of bullying behaviours.
Universities
Collaborate with a university to conduct an action research project to identify bullying issues in your school community and to find effective solutions.
Local council and businesses
Engage the local council and businesses in your community to help spread the word about bullying prevention through billboards and marquees, and sponsorship of events and prizes.
High profile individuals
Invite local heroes to encourage students to take a stand against bullying eg sporting teams, police, fire, ambulance, youth leaders, radio/television personalities.
Media
Create an anti-bullying public service announcement to be aired on local radio and television. Ask the teacher and students in a film class or drama club to script, perform and record bullying prevention messages. Check the BNW! Web site for ideas. And be creative! The more creative and catchy your PSA is, the more likely the station will want to play it.
Examples of what schools are doing
A small regional school community with a high Indigenous population initiated a Cultural Studies Program to foster racial and cultural understanding and respect, and to combat racism.
A secondary school in a semi rural zone has been using drama and discussion to challenge homophobia. The wider community, including 'out' gay and lesbian people worked with staff and provided positive role models for students involved in the drama project.
A secondary school located on the rural/urban fringe of a large regional city established a hub for agencies to join in providing a safe and supportive environment free from violence.
A remote island school engages a respected elder to work closely with the school to strengthen the link between the school, the community and community agencies.
A large urban school in Brisbane gathered data within the school, consulted the local university and discussed the issues with the school community.
A large primary school called on experts from the community and organised workshops for staff and community.
Resources
Engaging Our School Communities
Department of Education (TAS)
Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy
© 2008.
For copyright information about this website, and circumstances
in which
reproductions of this website are permitted, please visit our
Copyright Notice.
