| October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time to shed the light on bullying. During this month, many groups across the country will release new resources, campaigns, and efforts aimed at bringing awareness to the issue of bullying. Unity Day is the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month and will be observed this year on October 20, 2021. To participate in Unity Day, individuals, schools, communities, and businesses wear or share orange to unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to prevent students being bullied. |
The federal government began collecting data on school bullying in 2005, when the prevalence of bullying was around 28 percent. According to Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center, one out of every five (20%) students report being bullied and 41% of those children who reported being bullied at school indicated that they think the bullying would happen again. A higher percentage of male than of female students report being physically bullied (6% vs. 4%), whereas a higher percentage of female than of male students reported being the subjects of rumors (18% vs. 9%) and being excluded from activities on purpose (7% vs. 4%). The reasons for being bullied reported most often by students include physical appearance, race/ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation. (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2019)
Taking action here in Orlando is The Holocaust Memorial Education and Resource Center who has as its mission “to use the history and lessons of the Holocaust to build a just and caring community free of antisemitism and all forms of prejudice and bigotry.” As natural agent for change to support National Bullying Prevention Month, The Holocaust Center has organized an action-packed week of activities to raise awareness and funds to support education and bully prevention programs for students in Central Florida and beyond!
Registration is now open for all of the existing Unity Day “Week” Events taking place October 18 through October 22 . “Please join us in raising awareness for bully prevention and take a stand against prejudice and bigotry so that you, too, can help increase kindness and inclusion in our community. All donations will fund vital educational programming. And, don’t forget to wear orange on October 20th!” said Kathy Turner, Senior Development Director, Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center.
