‘BEING LGBT IN SCHOOL’

ullying will ensure that your school is
fulfilling its commitment to the principle
of building a positive school community
and climate based on inclusiveness. In this
respect the materials for Stand Up! LGBT
Awareness Week would be a useful addition
to a school’s existing programme for
Friendship Week.
Other materials that can be used in this
context can be found in the Growing Up
LGBT resource and DVD, in particular
lesson 4 on the theme of friendship (aimed
at building understanding of the positive
impact that supportive friends can have),
and lessons on the theme of prejudice and
discrimination dealing specifically with
homophobic bullying.
7.1.3 Anti-Bullying Week
Many schools hold an Anti-Bullying
Week with similar elements to that of a
Friendship Week. While an Anti-Bullying
Week is, as the name implies, focused on
building understanding amongst the school
community of bullying, including the
school’s anti-bullying policy and code of
behaviour, many schools plan the week from
a holistic approach and include activities
that build awareness, understanding and
respect for difference.
Awareness raising strategies that are aimed
at preventing homophobic and transphobic
bullying can be easily slotted into an existing
programme, thereby fulfilling the school’s
commitment to building a positive culture
and climate that is built on inclusiveness.
The Anti-Bullying Week is an important
opportunity to make the school’s antibullying
policy and code of behaviour into
living documents by allowing all members
of the school community (students, parents/
guardians, staff and members of Boards of
Management) the space and time to reflect
on what the policy contains, how it is used
and exploring how it could be improved. The
activities identified under Friendship Week
above would complement such an approach.
The Anti-Bullying Week can provide
the Board of Management with useful
information and feedback for consideration
as part of its annual review of the Anti-
Bullying Policy and its implementation,
as per Department of Education and
Skills requirements.
7.2 CURRICULUM
INTERVENTIONS
The Department’s anti-bullying procedures
highlight the role of class teachers in
influencing attitudes to bullying behaviour
in a positive manner through a range
of curricular initiatives. A number of
curriculum components and programmes,
which are particularly relevant to the
prevention of bullying and the promotion
of respect for diversity and inclusiveness,
are outlined here.
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‘Being LGBT in School’