All Together Now! The Dreams and Possibilities in Fostering Attitudes of Respect, Empathy, and Agency

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 12
  In Roundtable Session: Anti-Bullying, Makerspace, and the Spectrum of Teaching: Fresh Takes and Needed Interventions

Abstract

This paper outlines the journey of All Together Now! a programme developed to tackle homophobic and transphobic bullying in primary schools in Ireland. Recent policy publications place an onus on schools and teachers to tackle homophobic and transphobic bullying (DES, 2013). While many schools are open to engaging children in anti-bullying education in general, the lack of age-appropriate materials to tackle LGBT bullying was perceived as a barrier, as was the lack of specific training for teachers (Neary et al. 2016). This project involved the creation of a set of lessons, recruitment and training of principals and class teachers, development of a training module for principals and teachers, and subsequent piloting of the classroom materials with pupils.

Authors

• Seline Keating, Dublin City University

• Bernie Collins, DCU Institute of Education

• Mark Morgan, St. Patrick's College