Call for anti-bullying laws and school protocols

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development Shawn Clarke is recommending that Barbados introduce anti-bullying laws and establish standard bullying protocols in schools.

The certified trainer and consultant with the Olweus Bullying Prevention Programme told Barbados TODAY that even though various pieces of legislation governing various aspects of bullying are already in place, specific laws are needed to address the problematic issue in all its forms.

He said this is important to show perpetrators that the legislative arm is intent on firmly dealing with the issue.

“I feel we need now to put the appropriate legislation in place that can govern bullying and that can make our people feel safer than they are right now.

“So that Barbados can have its definition of bullying that is used in the law courts, so that one person wouldn’t be saying that this is bullying and then another person say bullying is something completely different. Anti-bullying laws are effective,” Clarke said.

The Supreme Counselling CEO said he has drafted a document outlining protocols which he intends to share with the Ministry of Education for possible implementation in the island’s schools.

He suggested that a bullying prevention policy would ensure all schools manage instances of bullying the same way.

“If you look at the different schools, you would have a situation where the principal at school ‘A’ may see bullying as one thing and may not necessarily address it in its real form, because he might see bullying as a right of passage.

“Meanwhile, the principal at school ‘B’ may be against bullying and wants to put things in place, but he is at a loss as to what to do because there is no such protocols or legislation in place that governs bullying. This makes it easier for the principals and for the teachers, and so on, of the different schools to identify bullying and know exactly what they have to do to address the different types of bullying,” Clarke said.

He insisted that in order to successfully bring bullying in schools under control, the consequences must be consistent across the board.

The Olweus Bullying Prevention Programme, which has been implemented in more than a dozen countries around the world and in thousands of schools in the United States, is a comprehensive approach that includes schoolwide, classroom, individual and community components.

It is focused on long-term change that creates a safe and positive school climate and aims to reduce and prevent bullying problems among students to improve peer relations at school.

“In addition to laws and a school’s bullying protocols, it is evident in the United States that schools that implement Olweus see a reduction not only in bullying cases but also in other negative behaviours and also an increase in grades,” Clarke said.

The programme which is already in two secondary schools – Grantley Adams Memorial School and St George Secondary School – will be launched at the Frederick Smith Secondary on Friday, January 20.

Clarke said other schools had requested the programme but sponsorship is needed to facilitate them. (AH)