Mayor praises
youngsters who took part in Anti-Bullying Week
Mayor Sir Robin Wales has
thanked all the volunteers, staff and pupils in Newham who took
part in Anti-Bullying Week.
The Mayor also praised Newham Children's Parliament
(NCP) and Young Mayor Kaycee de Belen who have made the issue a
priority.
Earlier this week, NCP members issued guidance on how to deal with
cyberbullying, which involves the use of the internet, email or
mobile phones.
Top tips include:
- Keep evidence - don't delete emails or text
messages
- Don't reply - bullies need attention - block the bully and
report it to an adult you trust
- Report it - most websites and phone companies have a place
where you can report abuse.
- Respect others - think before you send something. Messages and
pictures are easily shared and can stay online forever.
- Protect your passwords. Don't share them because even friends
fall out.
Sir Robin said: "It must never be assumed bullying is restricted
to the playground. With the growing popularity of social networking
sites such as Facebook and Bebo, as well as text and email, the
issue has firmly entered the 21st Century.
"Our Young Mayor and Children's Parliament (NCP) have again chosen
to tackle bullying as one of their main priorities, while work
being done by our expanding bullying prevention working party is
being matched on a grass roots level through peer mediation
projects within schools.
"We feel the best way to eradicate bullying is by making it
deplorable and unacceptable - in all its guises.
"The more schools can do to present bullying as a pathetic and
harmful pastime, the better we can rest assure our sons and
daughters are not taking part, but rather reporting when they see
or experience it - whether at school, in the street or online."