A training session for teachers took place within the REVIS project (REsponding to VIolence among children in Schools and adjacent settings) during 1-3 September 2021, on the theme of shifting social and gender norms around violence in schools.
Various topics were debated during the workshops: forms of violence in schools, teacher-pupil relationships, and how to encourage children to talk about the abuse committed against them.
The training session led to discussions on a variety of topics related to violence in schools, and a number of conclusions were reached.
Violence among children may take different forms (physical, verbal, online, harassment and intimidation, psychological abuse, and discrimination). In regards to discriminated children, a case study on Roma children showed how they face the prejudice of their teachers and classmates, and the critical attitudes of their neighbours.
Children that have been abused, ignored, and criticised are not open to communication. They must first feel confident and safe to have the courage to talk about the violence they have experienced. For this reason, teachers, school social assistants and parents are very important.
Children are afraid to make mistakes. The attitude of adults toward their mistakes impacts children’s behaviour from a young age to maturity. Adults’ attitudes should not make children hide or keep silent, participants concluded.
A teachers’ attitude towards an abused child will be taken on by the entire class. Teachers must be prepared to explain sensitive issues to their pupils, and to react fairly and correctly.
They mentioned that shifting norms on violence in schools implies not only legislative changes (amendment of laws and regulations), it implies a change in each of us. Also, teachers should be versed in not only their subjects, but child psychology as well. A change in these norms comes at the individual level and by means of personal example, in school and at home.
Trainers will keep in touch with their groups, and will mentor and support teachers to implement these training methods. "We, as trainers, are trying to raise some questions, plant some seeds, so that teachers’ activities with children bear fruit,” the trainers explained. They mentioned that the role of teachers is to plant these seeds of change in children’s minds. Certainly, results will not show up overnight — violence will not disappear immediately, but it is important that things start moving, the trainers added.
The participants reached the conclusion that schools and parents must work together closely, as the child brings into school what he experiences at home. He may express a form of violence and not know its cause.
A teacher is a second parent; during classes they supplement the first seven years of education provided by the family. They must understand and help the pupil.
"The goal of this training is to make the participants exceed some limits, ask themselves some questions, transform themselves as persons and teachers,” the trainers stated.
The event was organised by Terre des hommes – Romania Foundation (www.tdh.ro), with the support of Child Protection Hub, professionals’ child protection platform (www.childhub.org/ro).
The REVIS project is co-financed from the “Rights, Equality and Citizenship” (2014–2020) Programme of the European Union.
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