The National Bullying Prevention Centre has designed a peer advocay model for schools, where students are trained to speak "out on the behalf of others — [it] is a unique approach that empowers students to protect those targeted by bullying." [1]
"It works for two reasons: Students
are more likely than adults
to see what is happening
with their peers,
and peer
influence is
powerful.
A student
telling
someone
to stop
bullying
has
much
more
impact
than an
adult
giving
that same
advice."[2]
For more
information on
how help your
studnets start a
peer advocay team in
your school, visit the
National Bullying Prevention
Centre's website and click on the Peer Advocacy Guide.pdf. You will find a step-by-step booklet on how to get started.
Note: This advocay program was designed to address bullying of students with disabilities specifically, as studies show "children with disabilities were two to three times more likely to be bullied than their nondisabled peers,"[3]; however, this model is easily adaptable to include all students who fall vicitim to bullying.
Advocacy
As a teacher, you have the power to inpire your students to become leaders for change. No more standing by, while children are bullied, your students can have a voice. Whether it is through a flash mob in a public place, a school anti-bullying newsletter, or a public campaign to raise awareness about bullying and provide support for victims of bullying,
SPEAK UP!
CHANGE
"WHAT IS"
INTO
"WHAT SHOULD BE"
[4]