If you stick your nose outside the door and take a big sniff you’ll notice it – autumn is coming. The sweet smell of the summer curling up at the edges signifies the start of the real New Year, when the kiddies all go back to school.  With this change around the corner the suburban cul de sacs of Ireland call out in unison “Where’s the effin’ school book list??”

This is a traumatic time for families. Not least the cost of kitting everybody out in learning materials but also finding the list in the first place. Pieces of paper given out at the start of the summer break are now being dug out from the questionable pits of the little darling’s school bag, gleefully abandoned many moons ago.

The Rose of Tralee in our house was the start of the great Irish tradition of wrapping the school books. Lovely ladies jigged about on the telly box, sang songs in American accents and were generally told they were “great altogether” while we Clarke girls wrapped Ann and Barry with wallpaper Granny had left over from the Civil War era.  This was our first chance to see what we’d be learning come September with fresh scones, tea and “sticky back plastic”. Happy memories unfortunately mixed with the dread of the school gates.  It’s not just you going back to school, it’s everyone else too.

As of 2014, the Department of Education has announced that school books will have anti bullying awareness adverts included in school textbooks. They aim to raise awareness of bullying and provide advice and a helpline for the children to access should they need support. It seems to be one of those stupidly simple ideas that is so brilliant it took us a while to think of it. Cynics rightfully question whether this will achieve any change in children’s behaviour considering anti-bullying talks are part of the school year and its widely talked about across society. But there is something powerful about a class of 30 children turning a page in their school book and collectively looking at a page reminding them to be kinder to those around them.

Most of us have experienced bullying at some stage growing up.  Cases range from school yard taunts to severe situations that sadly make national and international news. Young personalities are growing up in a hot house of hormones and peer pressure. School can be a lonely place for some and having a reminder in a school book that you are not alone and perhaps, that being a cruel, malicious person to your classmates does more harm than you know. 

Looking beyond the spots and questionable hair styles, I don't think there is one of us who would view our teenage selves as the best of we could be. We were still growing into adulthood and hopefully, the more evolved among us, continue to do so throughout our lives. 

Increased pressure at work, long hours in the office, financial worries … any one of these is enough to turn us into the worst representation of ourselves.  Letting off steam by the water cooler, bitching about colleagues or slagging clothing choices might be seen as harmless ribbing and letting off some steam but to be honest, it doesn’t take long to bring the person being discussed right back to the lonely time in school when the whole world was against them.

Workplace stress and anxiety causes untold damage both in the workplace and at home but most people just struggle on regardless.  Human resource departments put best practise guidelines in place but everyday slights can build up and alienate people.

We’re adults now so aren’t we supposed to have all the answers? Aren’t we meant to have moved on and left the childish behaviour in the school yard?  

Ann and Barry was a long time ago but sometimes it would be nice if there was an anti-bullying message in our work books too