National Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week is happening now through November 22 with parenting and relationships expert Dr. Karyn Gordon touring five Ontario schools over three days in partnership with Pizza Pizza to discuss this important topic. According to the Canadian Institute of Health Research, at least one-in-three adolescent students in Canada identify as victims of bullying, and 47 percent of Canadian parents report having a child affected by bullying.
Entitled “Friendships Unplugged,” the interactive presentation is for students in grades 1 through 8. The campaign is part of an integrated effort by the Ontario Ministry of Education to promote safe school environments and positive learning via “broad discourses” on bullying. Topics include lessons on the real meaning of respect and self-esteem, what bullying indicates about a person's level of self-esteem, effective and respectful communication during conflict, and practical options for creating healthy friendships. Students attending presentations are provided with tools for building healthy relationships and dealing with conflict effectively.
“This is a very important subject for the most vulnerable people in our society, our children,” says Pat Finelli, Chief Marketing Officer at Pizza Pizza. “They represent our future and bullying is not only an attack on individuals, but it compromises our future as a society. Our company is dedicated to working with Dr. Gordon to promote healthy relationships for our young ones and we are proud to be able to help her share her anti-bullying message with our youth, school authorities and parents.”
Dr. Gordon begins each presentation with a two-minute video featuring celebrities talking about friendship, then transforms the assembly into a mock talk show with four audience volunteers portraying four friends. The volunteers are pre-selected by teachers to create a short yet meaningful skit on bullying and relationships.
“Bullying has become a prominent issue among our youth around the world,” Dr. Gordon notes. “It is a major shortfall in behavior for many young persons who don't know how to comfort themselves any better or have no idea how to make friends. Like anything else, they need to be taught.”
Dr. Gordon's tour includes the Diefenbaker Elementary School in East York, Branksome Hall in Toronto, St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic Elementary School in Ajax, Immaculate Conception Catholic Elementary School in Ancaster and Ealing Public School in London. She is a leading parenting and relationships expert in North America as well as a best-selling author, motivational speaker, media personality and founder of dk Leadership.
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