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New ways to approach Anti-Bullying

I had a brief chat (too brief, if you ask me!) with Christian author, speaker - Founder and President of "The Protectors", Paul Coughlin this week.

He has developed a curriculum for Christian/private and public schools to stop bullying, an issue that remains all year round among adolescents and one that should be addressed not just during a designated "Bullying Awareness Month".

 

I was never a victim or bully as a child, but I was involved in what my school called "Peer Mediating" (we went through some training, wore a yellow vest, and had the duty of "monitoring" the school yard during recess for unfair behaviour that the teacher may not catch). If we volunteered our time and reported any "incidents" to the teacher, we got a cookie. I guess my elementary school had the right idea. A cookie may have been a small reward for keeping peace in my school.

"The Protectors" focuses on making the peers 'heroes' and promotes courage from bystanders... not just efforts on reforming and "changing" the Bully (which has proven ineffective). Through this curriculum, bystanders learn how they can intervene on behalf of the Target. Simply by stepping forward in a non-violent way, or by saying "Hey! Leave him alone!" bystanders can be the hero... and set a brave example to their schoolmates. 90% of kids who witness bullying want to help. Why not change the culture of the school.

One study revealed that if only one bystander, who doesn't even need to be popular, uses his or her assertive but non-violent words in defense of a Target, that the incident of bullying can end 58% of the time within 6 to 8 seconds. By intervening on behalf of Targets, Bystanders will not only create safer and happier schools, but also create greater character within themselves and others.

It's cool to stand up for someone who's being bullied!

If you're a parent or a teacher and would like more information about this program, visit http://www.paulcoughlin.net/protectors/

Listen to the interview:

 

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