Real Talk About Bullying: What Adults Don't Know

In honor of National Bullying Prevention Month, Act Like You Matter presents an interactive panel where teens from Theatre of Peace (“TOP”) engage the audience in a critical discussion about the role of SEL in bullying intervention and prevention and the value of student-led SEL interventions for middle and high school students. 

TOP will showcase a scene about bullying, highlighting the perspectives of the students involved and demonstrating strategies for managing the encounter. Under the direction of Amy Jones Anichini, TOP will share how they successfully engage peers and younger students in meaningful conversations about bullying, empathy, self-regulation, and other SEL topics. While adult-led SEL interventions may work well in elementary schools, teenagers are more likely to pay attention and learn from SEL programs delivered by students, especially when the content addresses peer relationship and

communication. If adult-led SEL for teenagers is designed without the input of teens, it can miss what students are really experiencing and not resonate with the student audience. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to gain important knowledge, experience, and insight about bullying and. SEL directly from teenagers who can help inform us about what we might be missing and what teenagers actually need in SEL programs.