Friendship charter

Students, teachers and management of The Bahrain Bayan School in Isa Town have started the year with 'zero-tolerance' towards bullying in an inspirational campaign.

Beginning next week they are taking the initiative forward with a week-long programme of events that will get the entire school thinking about the controversial subject - often swept under the carpet by less enlightened education bodies - brainstorming solutions and figuring out practical ways to deal with the problem.

The school, with a student population of more than 1,000 pupils, is planning to dedicate a permanent monument to the movement. The 'Bayan says no to bullying wall' will have pupils from five to 17 sign and agree to a charter prepared by the school for an anti-bullying learning environment.

On one day the entire school, which offers a bilingual programme and an IB and high school diploma, will turn up in pink in honour of two Canadian high school boys who wore pink in support of a fellow student who was bullied for wearing the colour.

Pink ribbons will also be distributed to the entire school after special assemblies where the subject is discussed.

Primary school principal Sally Evans said activities are being directed to empower students to become heroes instead of victims. She said: 'The message we want to give is especially strong to those who are watching. We want to tell them that they cannot be quiet - being silent is as good as being a bully.

FUN activities such as drama, presentations, puppet shows and art will used to stimulate the students' creativity to highlight a Bahrain school's important anti-bullying message.

'We are giving children the ability to talk about their emotions, to talk about feelings, accept how other children are feeling because some children don't even realise that they are bullying,' said Bahrain Bayan School primary principal Sally Evans.

'The good thing about this is making them come up with their own solutions, which forces them to think about it. It can often change their attitude, which is what we want from this.

'We are trying to do an actual charter for the school and also send information sheets home for the parents on how to spot bullying and on what to do ... because it has to be a collaborative thing.

'It's not just the pupils who are involved. All members of staff are joining with them. It is also recognising bullying and also reinforcing the positive messages.

'It's really awareness and understanding of the issue and putting strategies in place to counter problems should they occur. It is not just saying 'go tell an adult'... it is saying what you can do as a person.'

Majdi El Hajj, secondary school principal, who was also on the teachers' committee for anti-bullying, said that anyone of any age can be a victim and everyone has to work together to stamp out unpleasant behaviour.

He said that the school has very strong reprimands in place for bullies and also has several ways to appreciate and encourage students who prove to be good citizens of the school.

Mr El Hajj added: 'Everyone has a responsibility in this matter. Staff and parents have to be watchful and students have to help out each other.

'From the beginning of the year we are trying to create a culture of no-bullying. We are all trying to be role models and are actively creating a culture of no-tolerance towards any type of such harassment.

'We are creating a respectful and professional atmosphere so that this can be passed on to students with strong messages.

'We have a very open door policy here. Students can talk to either counsellors or teachers. We even have class representatives who can come and freely talk about things. The school has no tolerance at all for physical bullying.

'If reprimands are ignored it can also lead to school suspension. That would be the ultimate and last resort.'

Senior management of the school has offered complete support for the initiative originally proposed by secondary English and psychology teacher, Kelly Shaughnessy.

She said: 'Being a bullied child myself I recognise the signs of it straightaway. It is up to us staff to recognise that bullying takes place in schools. It is being open to the fact and admitting it.

'This is a wonderful school and I think it's the best school in Bahrain but in any, and every, establishment you have bullying and we want to do something about it.

'We are educating our children. We are giving them coping strategies and we are telling them that we care and we are asking parents to support us.'

Bullying is a very broad term. The school's teachers said that any action that comes down to being demeaning, calling people names, exclusion of people, anything that is done to make someone feel different, or excluded, can be considered bullying.

They were especially concerned about the use of bad language and prevalence of cyber bullying, which is difficult to supervise as growing children do not want any invasion of their privacy.

Sally Evans said: 'We are trying to address these issues from the beginning of the year in our assemblies. We are talking about it and saying that certain things are not acceptable.

'Children in the primary school are more likely to talk to their parents and, therefore, problems appear more obvious.

'Middle school children are going through a lot of changes and so we do see it occasionally and it can manifest itself in various ways. The pupils are also inclined to try dealing with it on their own.

'In the senior school, some students are not so open and we need to ensure they are confident enough to seek help.'

Middle school counsellor, Reema Fakhro, added: 'I don't think Bahrain is any worse than other parts of the world. It is about openness and accepting that bullying exists.

'In our culture we don't like to talk so much about our problems as much as maybe in the western world. Bullying happens but a lot of people look the other way perhaps because you can't prove it or you are worried about what you are going to say.

'There is no reason for bullying. Many who have grown up together can get very clannish and the new student can feel isolated - it could be because you have a foreign mother or you are from another culture or you speak with an accent.

'The problem is that some people don't seem to think that there is anything wrong with that. Such preconceptions and preconceived notions have to be battled.'

Susan Pulavarthi, co-ordinator for the science department and an IB biology teacher, said: 'We are trying to educate pupils about respecting differences and that comes from teachers and counsellors. Through special assemblies we are saying that it's OK to be different.

'Every school should have a clear policy in place to deal with bullying. Children at any age should not be traumatised for life. As they grow up the pain may become less but at any one moment it can loom large and I have heard of children in some situations committing suicide for the perception of bullying.

'I think a lot of difference can be made if students realise that the 'no bullying' message is very strong and how serious the management of a school is to implement its policies.'