Choose Respect 2018/2019

Respect should be at the heart of how we treat each other – both face to face and online, but too many children and young people in Scotland today still experience bullying that strips them of their rights and feelings of control.

Knowing what respect means doesn’t always translate into respectful behaviour. Every day we make decisions about how we act towards others, and while choosing respect isn’t always easy, it is ultimately our decision.

The Choose Respect campaign, which spanned the length of the school year, aimed to support professionals (teachers, youth workers, sports leaders) working with young people to help create more respectful cultures in their settings.

The was delivered in 4 stages (explained below), each with a series of resources and activities.

Download all the Choose Respect resources for free here.

Read case studies from the Choose Respect campaign here.

Stage 1: Self-reflection

During this stage we encourage children and young people to reflect on their own behaviour, and understand how our behaviour is shaped by who we are as individuals as well as the influences on our lives. This will lay the foundation for the stages that will follow throughout the year: celebrating difference, building empathy and developing positive relationships.

Questions to help you think about practice in your setting:

• To what extent do we support children and young people to reflect on their values, experiences, and sense of self and identity?

• To what extent do we help children and young people to understand what shapes their behaviour, and the impact it has on others?

• To what extent does the culture and ethos in our setting focus on the prevention of bullying through promoting positive relationships?

Stage 2 – Celebrating Difference

We all have similarities and differences. When people are treated disfavourably because they are perceived to be ‘different’, it can lead to discrimination or prejudice-based bullying. It’s important to accept ourselves and others for who we are. Celebrating our differences and addressing bullying leads to fairness, a more positive environment, and a culture where every person feels valued and respected.

Questions to help you think about practice in your setting:

• To what extent do we help children and young people recognise, accept and celebrate similarities and difference and diversity?

• To what extent does the culture and ethos in our setting focus on the prevention of bullying through promoting equality and fairness?

• How effectively do we address any prejudiced attitudes we identify in our setting’s community?

• How does this work link to the protected characteristics as outlined in the Equality Act (2010)?

Helpful external resources:

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Identity and Characteristics

Changing Faces: Wonder Resources

Action on Prejudice: face equality education pack (Early, Primary and Secondary)

Stage 3 – Building Empathy

Empathy – the ability to understand and respect other people’s perspectives and circumstances – is an important life skill we need to help us foster positive relationships. Nurturing this skill in children and young people can help contribute towards respectful cultures where bullying cannot thrive. The starting point for teaching this in children and young people is to help them see another perspective. Feeling compassion for others can develop into more caring behaviours and more trusting, positive relationships.

Questions to help you think about practice in your setting:

• To what extent do children and young people understand the concept of empathy?

• What daily practices do we have in place to help children and young people to develop empathy for others?

• How can we continue to build an environment where all children and young people are empathetic towards understanding others and their needs?

Helpful external resources:

Education Scotland: Glasgow Girls – campaigning for the rights of asylum seekers

Equality and Human Rights Commission: developing empathy

Stage 4 – Positive Relationships

This final stage of the #ChooseRespect journey brings together learning from our previous stages. By reflecting on who we each are, understanding and accepting difference, and building empathy for others, we can develop positive and respectful relationships which make it difficult for bullying to take place.

Questions to help you think about the practice in your setting:

• How do we currently promote a culture of positive relationships in our setting?

• How do our values relate to positive relationships day to day?

• What visual prompts/reminders do we have in place to reinforce the message that our setting is based on respect for each other?

• What do children and young people in our setting tell us they need to create a culture where bullying is never acceptable and isn’t allowed to thrive?