Perkins Law Helping Raise Awareness for National Bullying Prevention Month

October marks National Bullying Prevention Month, which was initiated by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center in 2006 and brings together communities around the world to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention. National Bullying Prevention Month is supported by hundreds of schools, community members, major corporations, and celebrities, and is an opportunity to encourage everyone to unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

Disturbingly, 0ne of every five students reports being bullied during the school year. Online, the percentage of individuals who have experienced cyberbullying has nearly doubled over the past decade.

“October is a time when educators, students, parents, and community members can unite to share their support for the important issue of bullying prevention,” said Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. “Together, we can make our schools, communities, and online environments safer.”

There are many ways to be involved during National Bullying Prevention Month, such as wearing and sharing orange on Unity Day, Wednesday, Oct. 25, to send a unified, orange message of hope and support to those who experience bullying.

PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center offers resources for students, parents, schools, and communities to address bullying. Engagement begins with its three innovative websites, all created to target a specific audience:

• PACER.org/bullying for parents and professionals
• PACERTeensAgainstBullying.org for middle and high school students
• PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org for elementary school students

These websites provide information about bullying at school, in communities and online, and support to those who experience bullying. The sites include classroom toolkits and activities, videos, personal stories, statistics, and resources to raise awareness of this important issue, and includes a pledge kids and teens can take to be together against bullying.

For more information about National Bullying Prevention Month and to learn how to become involved in this worldwide campaign, call 952-838-9000 or visit PACER.org/bullying.  As a nation founded on the principles of freedom and individual liberty, we must not hesitate to deter, condemn, and respond to bullying of all forms whenever and wherever it happens.