Bullying Awareness Day 26th January 2015

Mr Pat McKenna of Childwatch, a digital age Child Protection Company, addressed all the boys today.

His Talks addressed key online issues online relating to the boys’ accessibility, visibility, digital footprint and consequent vulnerability. He told them that they may delete their Facebook account tomorrow, but the pictures and dialogue in it will be available forever. He warned about cyber bullying. It is far too easy to sit behind a screen and indulge in this. Those that bully in this way lose control of the outcome and probably do not mean it to go so far.

At lunchtime, a most entertaining Staff- Student Debate – my colleagues successfully proposed “That this House believes that Technology has had a Detrimental Effect on the Younger Generation” – was held in the Learning Centre.

I thank our Speakers, Mr Shiel, Mr Byrne, Mr Toirleac O’Brien, David Fenn (5th Year), Tomas Beecham and Joshua Kieran Glennon (both 6th Year), Chairman, Mr Morris and Adjudicators Ms Kelleher, Mr Toolan, James Quinn (6th Year) and Scott Donohue (Transition Year).

The key message of the day is not to stand idly by if you are a witness to bullying – you should report it.

TELL … TELL … TELL
* SILENCE PROTECTS THE BULLY *

I thank Ms McGee, Chairman Joshua Kieran Glennon (6th Year) and his Student Council for their organisation of the day.

• EACH PUPIL IS ENTITLED TO AN EDUCATION FREE FROM FEAR AND INTIMIDATION.
• BULLYING IS NOT TOLERATED IN BLACKROCK COLLEGE.

• CONFIDENTIAL EMAIL: TACKLINGBULLYING@BLACKROCKCOLLEGE.COM