Writing on school wall: Be a buddy, not a bully

A school has used its walls to tell students to be a "buddy and not a bully", accept differences and do the right thing even when alone.

The wall at Mahadevi Birla World Academy is now bright and draws attention. It also tries to pass on simple messages to children whom the school expects to stop by, given the wall's makeover.

On the wall, the school asks students to be "smart" while using the internet, to stay safe online and tell an adult if they are uncomfortable at any stage.

Students from classes as low as III or IV have access to devices and delve into sites that they should not see, a teacher said.

On many occasions, parents forget to delete the search history leading children to many adult sites, she said.

One of the walls talks about an "inclusive circle" where there are people with learning differences as well as people from different genders, languages, skin colours and belief systems.

The gallery has explained that bullying is physical (hitting, pushing, shoving), verbal (making threats, intimidation), social (spreading lies, rumours, exclusion), and digital (sending inappropriate texts or posting inappropriate messages or pictures).

"The wall iterates in a different tone what we tell them in class or in the assembly," said Anjana Saha, principal of the school.

The gallery is in the junior school building but on the way to the auditorium, which is also used by middle and senior school students.

Vice-principal Nupur Ghosh said: "One cannot take advantage of someone who is weak or at a disadvantage."

"The idea is to make them aware of what is bullying. They should be familiar with it and understand that it is not to be tolerated and that if they feel victimised, they can go to special educators and teachers, instead of keeping it inside them," said Saha.

The school wall tells students that meeting someone they have only known online can be "dangerous".

A message on the wall read: "Be a buddy, not a bully".

Another reads: "Tell your parent, carer or a trusted adult if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried, or if you or someone you know is being bullied online."