Dubbo Public School students all took a pledge on Friday to stand against bullies.
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March 16 was the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence. More than 4000 schools registered to take part in the day, including Dubbo Pubic School, Dubbo College Delroy Campus, Dubbo College South Campus, St Laurence’s Primary School, St Mary’s Primary School, St Pius X, Dubbo School of Distance Education and Dubbo South Public School.
At Dubbo Public School, teacher Rachel Stockings said the students had all added their handprints to a banner outside the school.
They also took an anti-bullying pledge that promised “I will not use my hands for hitting or my words for hurting others. I will use them only for helping”. After the 550 students took a pledge they also received a wristband.
Ms Stockings said the students had been learning not to be a bully or a bystander to bullying in class. The younger students had also been learning empathy and how they shouldn’t be involved in something that hurt someone else’s feelings, she said.
While it’s the eighth time the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence has been held, Ms Stockings said it was the first time Dubbo Public School had taken part.
The teacher said she had been spurred into action by 14-year-old Dolly Everett’s suicide. Dolly had been repeatedly bullied.
The anti-bullying day was established as a positive day of action to prompt schools to help find workable solutions against bullies.