Taking a proactive stance
Nick Katalifos
As members of our various communities, we hate to hear stories of bullying – whether in the school-yard, online or anywhere. As educators, we strive to find ways to prevent bullying, and ways to guide students towards self-respect and respect for others. We use our teaching and coaching skills to show children how to manage their emotions and learn conflict-resolution skills – and other ways to help prevent situations from escalating into bullying. Where we can, we strive for prevention.
This issue of Inspirations gives me the opportunity to share some of the ways the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is taking a proactive stance in preventing bullying, which as we all know takes a tremendous toll on one’s mental health.
In its secondary school network, the EMSB has several initiatives underway, including the EMSB Student Leadership Program. This time-tested and successful program has been running since the mid 1980s. Its purpose is to bring high school students together from across Montreal to receive hands-on leadership training in weekly character-building activities.
Students are challenged to experience situations from a multitude of perspectives and to understand how much their own actions and words can affect others. Their learning comes full circle as they share their lessons in leadership by running fun and meaningful activities for 200 students from EMSB high schools during a two-day spring leadership camp they have designed, organized and facilitated.
At the elementary level, Leonardo Da Vinci Academy in Rivière des Prairies is the first EMSB school to run the Champions for Life Foundation’s Recess Champions program. It is designed to nurture children in Grades 4, 5 and 6 to take on the role of “meaningful movement ambassadors” in their schools. Based on its three core pillars of leadership, physical literacy and fair play, it aims to make the schoolyard during recess – often a place where bullying and conflicts arise – more active, safe and inclusive.
Another interesting initiative is Project Harbour’s RULER program, which has been introduced to some elementary schools and high schools under the umbrella of our Student Services Department. This is a social-emotional program that aims to increase competencies in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. School teams, including day care staff, have been trained in this method, and students have received various workshops relating to the RULER program. In its third year of implementation at the EMSB, we have now begun embedding social-emotional learning within the school curriculum, so that teachers are actively teaching it on a regular basis.
We are addressing the issue of bullying in several other ways at the EMSB, including the Anti-Bullying Anti-Violence Action Plan that every school must complete on an annual basis, outlining their preventive measures against bullying and violence. (Please see the story on p. 15.)
Well-being clubs, currently being piloted in 10 schools, aim to enhance students’ mental health and well-being. Also, an anti-bullying training workshop is being offered to staff this winter and spring and as always, programming from our Spiritual and Community Animation team plays a crucial role in anti-bullying and violence prevention initiatives at the EMSB.
Our schools, like all schools, are finding creative and motivating ways to combat bullying. But the work continues.
Nick Katalifos is the director general of the English Montreal School Board.
