Stand Up! Speak Out!

The Public Entity of Saba Summer interns- Elsa Peterson and Berline Germain held a “Teaser” to start the “Anti-Bullying Campaign” at the Saba Comprehensive School.

Wednesday June 22nd, 2016, during the break , Peterson and Germain got fully engaged with the Students of the Saba Comprehensive School, and the 6th grade class of the Sacred Heart School. Germain started out with the introductory and spoke about the meaning and concepts of bullying. She mentioned a survey was conducted in April, 2016, which 72 surveys were distributed amongst the SCS students. Based on the findings Germain stated that “22.5% of the students has bullied another student once or twice before, and although the number may not be as high it doesn’t go unnoticed.” She went on to state that a fast majority of the bullying takes place in the courtyard/ playground, especially exclusion.

Peterson then took over, and strongly stated that “bullying has become a national epidemic all around the world, however we won’t allow this to take over in our schools”. She followed with a hand on activity called “popping of the balloon”. On the front side of the balloon the students were each asked to write one mean/disrespectful word they’ve said to someone else, and on the back side a mean/disrespectful word that someone else said to them. Together, Peterson made everyone stand and vow “this word no longer has a meaning to me; I will never use this word to myself or my peers again”, and the balloons went off with a pop.

Peterson and Germain have been fully involved with both the Primary and Secondary school for the past 2 weeks. Together they both decided to introduce the Anti-Bullying Campaign to the students which will start for the Comprehensive School in August, 2016 with the training of staff by the Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committee (BPCC), using the Olweus Anti Bullying Program. Ofcourse not everyone has been a bully or the victim of bullies, but everyone has seen bullying, and seeing it, has responded to it by joining in or objecting, by laughing or keeping silent, by feeling disgusted or feeling interested. Peterson mentioned to remember “Strong people stand up from themselves. But the strongest people stand up for others.” Stand Up! Speak Out! Let’s not bully at all.

The BPCC consists of several SCS Stakeholders like the MR, the Public Health Department, Child Focus, Center for Youth and Family, Victim Support, SCS Staff members, School Social Worker, and Police.