An Anti-Bullying Curriculum
Targeted for GOYA-Aged Children in 7th – 12th Grades
Information for Youth Groups, Advisors, and Community Members
“I wish to take this opportunity to inform you of the impact one of your initiatives had on our GOYA group.” Carol Stamas, one of Ascension’s GOYA Advisors, offered the presentation “Stop Bullying in Your Community.” This very pertinent information generated a stimulating and thoughtful discussion that included the recount of one of our GOYANs on her personal experience as a victim of bullying. Additionally, several of our youth shared their perspectives on bullying and its impact on children/youth of all ages. In these times of unrest and turmoil all around us, I believe it is essential that we provide this kind of information to our youth and particularly so in a faith-based setting. Needless to say, I highly recommend other Youth Groups to have this presentation made so that our Youth can get a better understanding of bullying as well as learning methods of dealing with such behavior.
Thank you again for this excellent initiative; it truly made a difference.”
– Fr. Sotiri P. Malamis
Ascension of our Lord Greek Orthodox Church
Lincolnshire, IL
Bullying
- It can happen anywhere, cities, suburbs or rural towns depending on the environment.
- Repetitive actions, power imbalance and intentional acts are the three main components causing verbal, physical and relational types of harmful behavior among our youth.
- It is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated or has the potential to be repeated over time. Both children who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.
- Some people dismiss bullying among children as a normal part of growing up, but bullying is harmful. It can lead children and teenagers to feel tense and afraid. It may lead them to avoid school, and in severe cases, teens who are bullied may feel they need to take drastic measures, react violently, or even consider suicide. The effects of bullying last a lifetime.
- Parents, school staff, youth advisors and other adults in the community can help GOYAns, teens in the 7th through 12th grades, prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school and church environment, and creating a community-wide bullying prevention strategy.
The Stop Bullying in Your Community program and curriculum is a collection of videos and PowerPoint presentations. They are provided below and are designed to be used in chronological order. The Activities under Resources can be used, as desired, to reinforce the PowerPoint presentation. The curriculum culminates with the video I See That and It’s NOT Okay where students can upload anti-bullying emojis to their smart phones in order to send them to offenders via text messaging. We hope that this program will be of benefit and help to eradicate bullying in your community.
Click on the image below to download the Stop Bullying in Your Community PowerPoint directly onto your computer.
This presentation is not only valuable for young people, but also for the adults in your community.
The Learning Activities in the Resource Section below are intended for use along with this PowerPoint presentation as reinforcing activities for the information presented on the slides.
Resources– Learning Activities to be used with the Powerpoint
These activities and posters are intended for use with the PowerPoint presentation above. Choose the activities that work best with your group.
Be the Bee #3 Stand Against Bullying
Courtesy of Y2AM (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries and Office of Camping Ministries)
Teen Talk on Cyber-bullying – a video produced by teens for teens
You’re Braver Than You Believe
A video that gives us all courage to stand up for each other.
Philoptochos Pick
Wonder, by R.J. Palacio, is a book about a young boy, August Pullman, who has a congenital facial abnormality who has to cope with a range of reactions to his unusual appearance. Some kids use hateful language, and some people suggest that Auggie is mentally deficient. However, goodness wins out, and readers should find it inspiring and uplifting. This book can teach many different lessons. The one that stood out to me was not to judge by the way someone looks but by the inner character of that person.
To watch a trailer of the movie, based on the New York Times best seller, please click here.
Orthodox Teen Survival Guides
- Bullying
- Body Image
- Peer Pressure
- Gossip
- Suicide
- Managing Stress
- Drugs and Alcohol
- Pornography
- Sexual Purity
- Life After High School
Visit Y2AM (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries and Camping Ministries) to download one-page hand-outs on the topics above. Use them as discussion starters for meetings on the various topics.
The Self-Esteem Journal
A Guide for All Ages, by Mary L. Johnson
Print the linked journal and use with young people to build their self-esteem and confidence. Please click here to access the Self-Esteem Journal.
References
Books
Garbarino, James & deLara, Ellen. (2002) And Words Can Hurt Forever: How to Protect Adolescents from Bullying, Harassment, and Emotional Violence. New York: The Free Press.
Hannah, Margaret. (2010) Cyberbullying and Parenting: Back to the Basics. Newton, MA: MSPP Interface Referral Service.
Slaby, Ronald G & Bernstein, Judith Y. (2012) Bullying Prevention: When Your Child Is the Victim, the Bully, or the Bystander. Waltham, MA: Massachusetts Medical Society.
Websites
www.stopbullying.gov – resources adults can use to help young people stop bullying
http://eyesonbullying.org – a toolkit to supplement your anti-bullying program
www.stompoutbullying.org – a place to get help for young people who have been bullied
www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org/tab/ – a video of young people discussing bullying
www.pacer.org/bullying/resources/toolkits/ – a toolkit of resources for students from the National Bullying Prevention Center
www.nea.org/tools/lessons/teaching-students-to-prevent-bullying.html – additional resources for students from the National Education Association