Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
November 21-27 is Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week.
Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week is the third week of November. Ontario has designated the week beginning on the third Sunday of November as Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week to help promote safe schools and a positive learning environment.
During Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week, Ontario students, school staff and parents are encouraged to learn more about bullying and its effect on student learning and well-being.
Bullying is defined as a form of repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or individuals that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear and distress and/or harm to another person's body, feelings, self-esteem or reputation. Bullying occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance.
Schools are encouraged to use this opportunity to explain the different forms bullying can take. These include:
- Physical: hitting, shoving, stealing or damaging property.
- Verbal: name calling, mocking, or making sexist, racist or homophobic comments.
- Social: excluding others from a group or spreading gossip or rumours about them.
- Electronic (commonly known as cyberbullying): spreading rumours and hurtful comments through the use of cellphones, e-mail, text messaging and through social media.
Resources