Youths urged to speak out against bullying as part of ‘Anti-Bullying Week’
Co-coordinator and school counselor, Mrs Bisa Smith stated that the week will begin with a virtual opening message video from the Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports on Tuesday, 17th October along with Dressing the Town in Odd Socks and then from Tuesday to Friday schools will conduct a series of activities focusing on anti-bullying.
“Anti-Bullying Week helps raise awareness of bullying amongst children and young people and helps schools to tackle bullying that is taking place. The aim of Anti-bullying Week is to heighten each student’s awareness of the effects of bullying on self and others. It’s also our goal to help students develop skills to maintain healthy friendships,” a release from the Minister noted.
While speaking to youths on the responsible use of technology and the need to not be cyberbullying others, Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) revealed earlier in the year that he is continuously bullied in the Virgin Islands.
Premier revealed that he is still being bullied in VI
“I myself, I'm a victim of cyberbullying. Yeah, you go on the blogs and people call me Slowande. Now who could call me Slowande?" the Premier asked youths gathered in Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) at a special symposium called ‘Don’t Be Mean Behind the Screen' hosted on May 19, 2023.
He warned youths that they couldn't come to the event and still be looking out for the next Mika Barry episode, “I'm fine with it [cyberbullying] because my skin is very thick. You know, I'm almost like a cyborg. I have to check and make sure I have a beating heart all the time... but I can take it.”
“But some persons when they see their names on a news story and people are killing them or something's going around in a WhatsApp group about them, some of these persons actually contemplate suicide, like they don't want to be alive anymore,” he added.
4 Responses to “Youths urged to speak out against bullying as part of ‘Anti-Bullying Week’”
Kudos to the TRC for putting on such an amazing event. My daughter and niece totally enjoyed it.
It is a known fact that teachers also bully students as well.
Anti-bullying should be year-round with it being a campaign/main focus of the day at school at least 1 day each month.
There should also be reminders via posters in the classroom/on the playground, spoken of during assembly on a regular basis that it is a no bullying zone.