You may have noticed a theme running throughout the news posted on our website this week. We’re covering a number of stories in recognition of Pink Shirt Day, a Canada-wide initiative meant to raise awareness surrounding issues of bullying.
This Feb. 24, we hope you’ll participate with people all across the country by wearing a pink shirt, button or pin – a statement meant to symbolize you will not tolerate bullying in any form.
We hear a lot about bullying in the media these days, and that can sometimes have an oversaturating effect. Because we hear so much talk about preventing bullying, we tend to assume the problem has been dealt with.
But any student will tell you bullying is still a real issue in their schools. According to the website bullyingcanada.ca, approximately 25 per cent of children in grades 4 to 6 have been bullied and studies have shown that bullying occurs once every seven minutes on the playground. It’s still a very real problem.
Kids who are bullied can suffer from panic attacks, stomach aches, anxiety and even thoughts of suicide. Our schools need to be safe places where our kids can learn while feeling safe, protected and secure.
And bullying doesn’t stay confined to the schoolyard. It happens every day at home, at the workplace and online.
So on Feb. 24, we hope you’ll join us by showing you won’t tolerate bullying any longer. For more information on Pink Shirt Day, visit pinkshirtday.ca
