PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday several students will give insight and personal experiences about bullying at the Belair Community Centre as a result of a collaboration by Voice of Our Children (VOOC) Foundation with the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs.
The national panel discussion is scheduled from 8:00am to 12:00pm with students of secondary schools of St. Maarten/St. Martin
President of Parliament Hon. Drs. Rodolphe Samuel, says he is in full support of the initiative and collaboration with the Sports and Youth Department.
Bullying happens when someone hurts or scares another person on purpose and the person being bullied has a hard time defending themselves.
It is a behaviour that makes the person being bullied feels afraid or uncomfortable. There are many ways that young people bully each other, even if they don't realize it at the time. Some of these include: punching, shoving, spreading bad rumours, keeping certain people out of a group, teasing people in a mean way and ganging up on others.
"Parents have a role to play with respect to talking with their kids and asking them have they been bullied. This open relationship between child and parent is necessary in order to help the child overcome.
"I am looking forward to hearing about the outcome of the Friday panel discussion. One of the main things should be the development of home grown anti-bullying measures and interventions developed by our young people which can then be used in different schools and also circulated to parents so that they are aware and are informed," President of Parliament Hon. Drs. Rodolphe Samuel said on Thursday.
The newest form of bullying is cyber bullying (via the internet or social media platforms), and this is presenting a whole new range of challenges.
President Samuel commends the efforts and initiatives of the organization Voices of Our Children (VOOC) where it concerns bullying.
