With the existence of aggressive, hostile behavior prevailing in many schools throughout the region, the local Education Department was recently called upon by the Ministry of Social Development, in collaboration with Partners Advocating for Violence Eradication (PAVE), to conduct anti-bullying presentations at all primary schools throughout the island.
In last week’s edition of The Anguillian, an article highlighted this trait in schools. It featured a primary school-based anti-bullying rally and parade which was staged by all seven primary schools on Friday, June 22nd. Its purpose was to enlighten the understanding of students, and to sensitize the public, to the adverse repercussions that bullying brings.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned collaborated presentations, in response to the Ministry of Social Development, were conducted throughout the said schools and were facilitated by Ms. Jocelyn Johnson, Chief Probation Officer; Ms. Christine Brooks, Senior Probation Officer; and Ms, Toya Carty, Probation Officer.
The presentations’ aim was to display an image of the bully to the students and let them decide for themselves how they are to treat others with regard to accepting all fellow-students, and being tolerant of each other, without displaying a negative, aggressive bullying type of attitude. The highlighted motto for the presentations was: “Treat others how you would want to be treated.”
During the series, the facilitators challenged the students to be mindful of their own actions and behaviors towards others. The students were encouraged to be aware of the harm that can be caused to the individual being bullied if bullying persists. It was explained that such harm can make the bullied person become powerless, scared and angry. In addition, bullying can make students feel unsafe while at school, and this could affect their ability to properly assimilate information in the learning process. The facilitators stressed the importance of helping the student being bullied by reporting the situation to the relevant authorities.
They emphasized the importance of reporting. They impressed upon the children that if they should witness any bullying behavior, it is their responsibility to report it by telling the teacher, the principal, a police officer, a parent or any adult about it. This would help to curtail the blight of bullying and help children to thrive and develop in a positive, safe learning environment.
The Education Department wishes to encourage everyone to whom stories of bullying are told by children to take such stories seriously in a bid to take action against hostility, aggression and violence in schools. The Department quotes the words of Abraham Lincoln who once said: “I would rather be a little nobody than to be an evil somebody.”
