Anti-Bullying Month, Put An End To Bullying!

This month, across the world, thousands of schools, communities, organizations, and individuals will come together to stop bullying, as well as our very own Pact Charter School.

Many students are wondering what is happening for anti-bullying month here at Pact. Bullying is a serious thing and needs to be stopped not just at PACT but everywhere and in every school. But why is anti-bullying month so important here at PACT?

Mr Nyquist, Pacts secondary administrator said in an interview, ¨Pact does this each year because it’s important for students to know how to handle a bullying situation. It is also important for kids to know that the Pact staff wants to do what we can to prevent and stop bullying.¨

Mrs. Heinrich the art teacher at Pact was asked a similar question as to why she thinks this is so important at Pact, ¨Because we're a small school and we really value community and diversity.¨ That would probably be one of the best things about Pact, everyone knows each other and goes to the same school together in one small community (where most all students get along). Celebrating anti-bullying month and preventing bullying will help keep it that way.

Anti-bullying month has been celebrated for years here at Pact, so what has Pact done for this in the past? “In the past we have had speakers, videos in advisory. We have also displayed chains in the hall where students made suggestions for how to avoid bullying. We have also had students sign a pledge on the wall,” Mr. Nyquist said in the interview.

Pact really has done a good job at keeping up with anti-bullying month every year. I’m sure Pact is hoping that there will be a change in the attitudes and behaviors of students and that we will all help end bullying together.

Mr. Nyquist is hoping this as well, “I’m hoping that instances of bullying can decrease as a result of the things going on this month. Another goal is for students to be more aware of what to do when they see bullying and how to stand up for others.” he said in the interview. I’m sure many schools are hoping that bullying will stop and they will achieve the same results as well.

Another great thing that can come out of supporting anti-bullying month are people who stand up for others who are getting bullied. Thatś another great thing about Pact, the students care for one another. In the interview with Mrs. Heinrich she told about a time when someone stood up for someone else getting bullied.

¨There was a girl in my class who just say what was on her mind to be mean to other people in the class. Then there was another girl who went up to her and asked her why she felt the need to talk like that and hurt people around her, and the other girl stopped saying mean stuff after that.¨

So what you say to others can hurt them even if you don't know it and even saying the smallest thing to a bully like the girl in the story can make a difference. Pact seems to have many good examples and activities to support the anti-bullying philosophy. But who in particular stands out from the crowd and shows an awesome example?

In Pact’s student council, the president really cares about other people and how they feel, he is shy but confident at the same time, I was told this by Mrs. Heinrich. If we all acted more like the student council president and the girl in the story we could make Pact even better and happier place to be.

Although, not everyone may agree on the same things or share the same opinions on bullying. A senior at Pact Charter School, who wanted to remain anonymous, said that he does not think that PACT handles anti-bullying month the right way. When asked why felt this way, he said it was because he didn't think there was any bullying, a few other students felt the same as well according to informal interviews with the same question.

A big reason bullying continues to be a problem is because nobody says anything about it. There may be some people who will see another getting bullied and they won't say a word and walk away. The kids who get bullied are too scared to tell anyone because they could be afraid the bullying my get worse.

So some may not think there is bullying at all, but how would they know if no one does or says anything about it? That is why everyone needs to come together this month and show their support for anti-bullying month this October.

It seems Pact has many great things planned for anti-bullying month to look forward to. As shown earlier, Pact has done some pretty amazing things to involve students of all ages here to participate in preventing bullying. In an interview with Mr. Nyquist he told he explained the secondary’s plans:

“Students will be watching a few videos and holding discussions about bullying in advisory. There will be promotions to get staff and students to wear orange to show everyone in the school that we are united against bullying. On October 25th, some college students from North Central will be at PACT to perform skits on anti-bullying during a morning assembly.”

Standing up for bullying, uniting for kindness to one another, accepting and including others for who they are is what Unity Day is going to be all about. Unity day will be in October 19th and will be the day everyone should wear orange to help make bullying end.

Pact will make a great impact this month as they always have. The effort that's put in for anti-bullying month this year and in the future is an amazing thing and something to be proud of as a school. October is a great time to help raise awareness for the issue of bullying but we can all help to prevent it all year round. So everyone come together this month and help make bullying extinct here at Pact and wherever else we go.