How to prevent bullying and cyberbullying in schools: discovering the best practices

 Bullying affects all youth, including those who are victims, those who bully others, and those who act as audience, and its effects may continues till adulthood. Bullying may be physically or virtually. The shocking statistics from National Center for Educational Statistics of 2019 reveals that one out of every five students reports being bullied. The course was intended to counter all forms of bullying in all educational settings.
The new session of the course “How to stop bullying and cyberbullying in schools and promote social emotional learning​” took place in Palermo, Sicily from 03/07/2022 to 09/07/2022. Our participants came from diverse educational backgrounds: Katja , Audrey and Elina came from Phorms Education and Phorms Taunus Primary, Germany; Mercedesz joined us from Vaci Szc Petzelt Jozsef Technikum és Szakkepzo Iskol, Hungary; Patrycja and Joanna from Szkoła Podstawowa nr 7 im. Jana Karnowskiego w Chojnicach, Poland; Beata, Anna and Maciej took part from Powiatowy Zespół Placówek Szkolno - Wychowawczych, Poland; Iban from Instituto Enseñanza Secundaria Fuente Nueva, Spain; Elpida, Vasileios, Vasiliki and Konstantia from 8o Dimotiko Sxoleio Karditsas, Greece; and Ione from BirtLH Vocational training School, Spain.

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​Our introductory day started with some brainstorming activities about all the different kinds of bullying behaviours: the forms it takes, the roles involved, its main features and the difference between bullying and conflict.
We discussed in detail about the risk factors that lead young people to be bullied and to bully, and also about the initiatives and strategies that can be implemented to avoid bullying behaviours. These topics were discussed from different viewpoints including individual, family, school and community.

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Cyberbullying is a far greater problem that affects too many people all around the world and it is the most difficult type of bullying to be eradicated. Internet is part of everyone’s life these days and it has both positive and negative impacts on the younger generation. With practical and interactive sessions, we discussed in detail about the ways to prevent it in educational environments. A focus on the differences between Traditional and Cyber bullying was also part of the training. 

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​In order to prevent bullying behaviours, it is necessary to implement a supportive classroom environment. For this reason, we explored various topics related to emotional intelligence, membership, inclusion and collaboration. These are the main features of a positive school environment and we should take it into account while running our lessons or preparing our school policies and programs. Moreover, we explored some useful conflict management strategies

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​During the week, participants had also the chance to be taken around the beautiful and historical Palermo and its surroundings and were briefed about its marvellous history.
Along with the aforementioned topics, various fun filled activities were arranged for the participants so that they may make the most out of the course in their respective domains to eradicate bullying as a whole.

Discover more about this course in: https://www.erasmustrainingcourses.com/stop-bullying.htm