Bystander effect

Dear Parents and Colleagues,

Two very different things have inspired me to write this reflection. The first comes from my morning runs. I start when it is still dark, focused on the rhythm of my steps until I have to avoid an obstacle familiar to us all. Let’s just say some dog owners are not exactly diligent about cleaning up after their pets. Every morning, I tell myself: “Next time, if I see someone walking their dog, I will say something. People need to take responsibility!” Then comes the next time and I walk past dog owners in the neighbourhood, and guess what? I say absolutely nothing. I become a bystander.

The second inspiration came from our recent school production, The Freeman Show. In contrast to my passivity, Sylvia, a key character in the play, does the exact opposite. She sees Freeman trapped in a false reality, watched by millions, and instead of looking the other way, she takes action. She risks everything to help him see the truth.

Intervening when we see something unfair is not easy. We see it all the time, people witnessing injustice yet staying silent. This is a well-researched psychological phenomenon known as the bystander effect. This phenomenon does not just happen in the real world, it happens online too. 

Research has shown that people are even less likely to step in when they witness something unjust on the internet. Experts suggest that the more people who witness an emergency, the less likely any one person is to take action. This is often due to a sense of diffusion of responsibility. We assume that someone else will step in, so we do not feel the need to. However, this passivity may also stem from the overwhelming scale of online harassment. When cyberbullying can escalate to involve hundreds, thousands or even millions of people, standing up against it can feel like stepping into a storm of hostility. Many choose to stay silent rather than taking a risk of becoming a target themselves.

Shouldn’t we be willing to speak up when we see someone being attacked or treated unfairly? 

This does not mean we have to become superheroes as stepping in can sometimes be risky. What I am talking about is something much simpler: starting small, within our school community, where we all want the best for our children.

Many young people remain silent, afraid of what their peers might think. The word ‘snitch’ is thrown around so often among teenagers that it discourages them from standing up for what is right. But if we all play our part, stop being bystanders and choose to take action, I am confident things can change.

Intervening does not always mean confrontation. It can be as simple as offering support afterwards, checking in with someone who has been affected or sending a message once the situation has settled. It also means recognising when a situation is too big to handle alone and asking for help from parents, teachers or other trusted adults. Small acts of courage, combined with the support of those who can make a difference, can help create a culture where no one suffers in silence. 

Let’s strive to be the faces that stand out, rather than stand by.

Francisco Escobar
Principal & Head of Pastoral Care