At yesterday’s Senior School Assembly, Lucia G and Sophie B (both SVI) launched St Columba’s Anti-Bullying Week with this thought-provoking speech:
Before we dive in, I want you to think about this: when was the last time you really thought about the words you use, the way you act, or how your actions might affect someone else?
Today, we’re talking about something that we all know exists but don’t always like to admit—bullying. It’s a word that comes up a lot. You see it in posters, school policies, social media campaigns. But what does it actually mean? More importantly, what can we do about it?
Let’s start by breaking it down. Bullying isn’t just about big, obvious acts like fights or shouting matches. Yes, that’s one version of it. But often, bullying hides in the little things—the snide comments, the eye rolls, the group chats where someone is conveniently “forgotten.” It’s the subtle ways someone can be made to feel less-than, whether it’s through exclusion, gossip, or relentless teasing that’s disguised as “just a joke.”
Bullying isn’t just some unfortunate side effect of growing up. It’s a direct violation of rights—your rights. Working towards the Gold Rights Respecting School Award, we should all be aware by now of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The UNCRC lays out the rights every young person has, no matter who they are or where they come from. Let me give you a couple of examples:
- Article 19 states that every child has the right to be protected from harm.
- Article 12 says that every child has the right to have their voice heard and their opinions respected. If bullying is silencing someone or making them feel like they don’t matter, that’s a violation of this right.
- Article 29 focuses on education and personal development. Schools are supposed to be places where you grow—not places where you’re scared be yourself.
Let me ask you something. If we believe in these rights—and I think we all do—then why does bullying still happen?
Maybe it’s because people are trying to feel powerful. Maybe it’s because they’re insecure and bringing someone else down makes them feel better. Maybe it’s because we don’t always realise how much our words and actions can hurt.
Sometimes, bullying is less about malice and more about subconscious habits shaped by past experiences. Imagine a teenage girl, who grew up in a home where sarcasm and teasing were normal forms of communication. She doesn’t realise that joking about her friend’s appearance in front of others is more like humiliation than humour. To her, it’s just how people interact. Without understanding how those remarks might sting, she perpetuates a cycle of subtle harm, even though she might not intend to. The only way to break this cycle is for someone to step in, since she may not recognise that this behaviour is hurting others.
When someone bullies, it might not always come from a place of intent to harm but from their own unresolved struggles or lack of awareness. This doesn’t excuse the behaviour, but understanding its roots is essential to addressing it. Combating subtle bullying involves fostering empathy, teaching emotional intelligence from a young age, and creating environments where people feel valued and supported despite their differences.
So, what can you do?
The easy answer is “don’t bully people.” But let’s dig deeper. It’s not just about avoiding bad behaviour—it’s about actively choosing to be kind. It’s about stepping in when you see something wrong. Sometimes it’s as simple as checking in with someone, saying, “Hey, are you okay?”
It is easy to overstep the line between banter and bullying. We sometimes want to poke harmless fun at our friends, but it’s only funny if they find it funny.
And let’s be honest—none of us are perfect. If you’ve ever said or done something that hurt someone, take responsibility. Apologise. Learn from it. It takes courage to admit when you’re wrong, but it’s one of the best ways to grow.
Here’s the good news: this school has a lot of support in place already to combat bullying. Let me remind you of just a few things:
- We’ve got pastoral support through your Heads of House, who are always there to listen and help.
- Our Mental Health Ambassadors are trained to offer peer support if you’re struggling or just need someone to talk to.
- The MVP program—many of the SVI are Mentors in Violence Prevention
- The new Kick It Out group, intended to combat racist forms of bullying.
- And let’s not forget PSE lessons. They’re not just another slot on your timetable—they’re designed to help you navigate tricky situations like these and develop emotional resilience.
All of these resources are here because we care about making this school a safe, supportive place for everyone. But they only work if we all take responsibility—students, staff, every single one of us.
This week is St Columba’s Anti-Bullying Week. Within SVI, the different houses are working to create fun initiatives to raise awareness and help tackle bullying. Kilallan are asking you all to swap seats during PSE, which I know sounds daunting, but you should make the most of this opportunity to talk to someone new. Strathgryffe have made a video interviewing teachers and pupils about bullying, and Duchal and Craigmarloch are running assemblies in junior school to try to raise awareness about bullying from a young age.
Although it’s Anti-Bullying Week and we’re focusing on this issue right now with all these initiatives, it’s important to remember that bullying isn’t something we should only think about once a year.
The conversations we’re having and the actions we’re taking this week are just the beginning—they need to carry on every day, all year round. Creating a culture of kindness and respect doesn’t happen in a single week; it’s something we need to commit to, together, all the time.
