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Fort Bend County Judge K.P. George recently tweeted to raise awareness for National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, which takes place in October.
The purpose of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month is to educate and raise awareness about bullying and cyberbullying prevention, according to a press release.
"October is #NationalBullyPrevention Month. This month is meant to spread awareness and educate about bullying and cyberbullying," George wrote in an Oct. 5 Twitter post. "Join us this month and beyond in finding ways to end and prevent bullying."
National Today reports that bullying comes in different types of forms and could be potentially life-threatening. A recent federal survey shows that approximately 20% of U.S. high school students reported being bullied in school within the past year and 15% reported being the victims of cyberbullying.
During National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, students are encouraged to practice empathy and to reach out to students that appear to be struggling. Teachers are advised to reward students that show thoughtfulness and respect for classmates, and administrators are encouraged to plan bullying prevention programs.
National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month was established in 2006 by The Pacer Center which intended the month to be an opportunity to "prevent childhood bullying and promote kindness, acceptance and inclusion."
"Childhood bullying is a significant problem nationwide," Paula F. Goldberg, executive director of PACER, said. "It can cause school absenteeism, mental and physical stress, poor school performance, poor self-esteem, and, in some cases, school violence. Statistics show that 160,000 children in the United States miss school each day as a result of being bullied. That's not acceptable. Teachers and parents can play a critical role in creating a climate where bullying is not tolerated. When adults and children stand together, bullying ends."
Wednesday, Oct. 20 is Unity Day, a day for individuals to come together to show that they believe no child should ever experience bullying. Students, teachers and school staff can participate in Unity Day by wearing orange to show unity for kindness, acceptance and inclusion.