SAY BYE-BYE BABY BULLY
if
CARMEN M. FLORES
“Kung ano ang hindi mo gusto, huwag gawin sa iba.” A famous line of the song “Pag-ibig” which has an English version in a form of a maxim which goes, “Do not do to others, what you do not want to do unto you.” Indeed, these are commonly uttered and heard but remain soundless with the presence of bullies.
Yes, bullying is being felt and experienced in every corner, as it is selling like hot pandesal.
Experts define bullying as the intentional repeated, unpleasant or negative behavior by one or more persons directed against a person who has difficulty defending himself or herself. Unfortunately, bullying can occur in any youth-serving program, including schools, camps, athletics, and child care.
Bullying does not occur as an isolated incident. Instead, it results as a complex interaction between many factors – types of youths, activities, and physical characteristics of a program. And so we should be vigilant and carry an eagle eye to determine right away that bullying happens.
Well, coming from a seventh grader like me, who has meager mind but a huge heart inside specifically for those who are bullied, there are ways to combat it. Are you ready for the revelation?
First, in an organization be it small or big, should evaluate their programs and review past incidents of bullying behaviors to determine those youths, activities, and locations that should be designated as “high-risk.”
Second, encourage organizations to survey youths, employees, volunteers, and parents to discover how bullying occurs in existing programs. This can be a useful tool to learn about the more subtle incidents of bullying.
Then, proactively educate all employees, volunteers, youths, and parents about bullying. Specifically, the organization should provide all employees with the definition of bullying, the various types of behaviors that fall within that definition, and most importantly, specific steps they can take to prevent and respond to bullying.
Lastly, youths should receive age-appropriate information pertaining to bullying and their role in bullying prevention ‘coz untimely info will defeat the purpose of putting halt to bullying.
Oh, I guess you have learned enough from my humble piece. And just one last reminder, our world will be in state of peace if only we will give respect and love to each and everyone regardless of age, color, race and status in life. Take it from me. See you ‘til next issue. — oOo—
The author is Teacher III Pulung Santol Elementary School