Prevention programme launched to stamp out problem in schools

Chief Education Officer (CEO) Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw has acknowledged that it will take a collaborative effort to rid the island’s schools of bullying.

Speaking at the launch of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Programme at St George Secondary on Friday, Dr Archer-Bradshaw said that while it is the responsibility of teachers and non-teaching staff to follow up and intervene in bullying-related cases at schools, it is also important that parents play an active role in doing what is necessary to tackle the aged old problem.

The Chief Education Officer told the students that they too are the eyes and the ears of the school and must report cases of bullying to authorities.

“You more than anyone else will know when bullying activity is occurring, to whom it is happening and by whom it was initiated. Remember that you could become the next victim if you see something and you don’t say anything. This programme offers you support not only to tell but to build problem-solving and solution-focused behaviours that are necessary for life,” she said.

Dr Archer-Bradshaw said the bullying programme which is about and for students, cannot have its desired impact unless students play their role and see their school as a place of learning that goes beyond academics.

“It is a place where you learn to navigate the difficulties in life and this programme will help you to achieve this. It will give you the skills that are needed to achieve this.

“Life isn’t easy and more often than not you might have people who have not gone through this programme who might want to bully you. How do you respond? This programme will give you the skills in dealing with it.

“More so, this programme will help you not to perpetuate the bullying. The ability to reason with your peers, rather than to react in the moment, helps to make your school a happier, safer, more interesting and exciting place to be,” Dr Archer-Bradshaw said.

The education chief also said she looked forward to receiving feedback on the impact of the programme, which is designed to improve peer relations and make schools safer, more positive places for students to learn and develop, through reducing existing bullying problems and preventing the development of new ones at the learning institution.

Chief Executive Officer of the Supreme Counselling for Personal Development and Olweus Certified Trainer and Consultant Shawn Clarke stressed that bullying is extensive in schools and has a negative impact on the school climate and students’ right to learn in a protected and secure environment without fear.

Clarke said while bullying was once considered a rite of passage or non disruptive behaviour that helps build character, bullying is now known to have negative long-term academic, physical, and emotional effects on both the victim and the bully.

The psychologist also stressed that the scope and impact of bullying demand a coherent, integrated and comprehensive holistic public approach. Clarke said the bullying prevention efforts of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development will utilize the holistic approach to reduce incidences of bullying in schools in Barbados successfully.

He added that his organisation intends to refocus its energies on the Olweus Bullying Prevention programme at Frederick Smith Secondary and Grantley Adams Memorial School.

“We plan to re-survey all three of these schools this term and then again around this same time next year to build a case to be presented to the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training as to why the Olweus Bullying Prevention programme must be given the green light to become the programme to address bullying across all schools in Barbados,” Clarke said.

Principal Dennis Browne, said the school’s vision for the programme is that its implementation is not only for dealing with individual problems, but also for creating a more positive environment in the school, one that provides nurturing, improves peer relations, and leaves no room for bullying.

Browne said the programme is not a quick fix, but rather a long-term, whole school approach for which the entire community would need to come together to ensure that the negative behaviours of some students are not impacting the learning and development of their peers.

“Nevertheless, we acknowledge that we too cannot escape acts of bullying from existing within our school environment. Most recently, on Wednesday, I dealt with a matter of the bullying of three of our students who were being bullied by older students for their money.

“Of course, disciplinary action has been taken against those bullies, but what pleases me most is that those three students spoke to their teacher about the situation, hence, we were able to intervene and bring an end to the uncomfortable and unfair treatment that faced those three students.

“I take this opportunity to say to those three students ‘well done’. We applaud you for the courage you have shown in speaking out. We understand it may not have been easy to speak out because of the fear of retaliation by the bullies, but we commend you for doing so. It is only by doing so, that we can bring an end to what you are faced with,” Browne said.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb