For several years, the theme of National Bullying Awareness Week has been “Stand Up! (to bullying),” and while the focus remains on youth to be the change, research shows that bullying isn’t exclusive to the young. Some 15 per cent of people in a school or workplace are said to be directly involved in bullying, while 85 per cent are the potential bystanders – the “silent majority.”
“Bullying is everyone’s issue, from youth to parent to school to the community at large – we all have a part to play in working to prevent it,” said Kevin Murray, Officer in Charge at the St. Albert RCMP Detachment. “Even at our office, we have to model the kind of respectful workplace we expect others to have. There’s no tolerance for bullying here.”
Bullying can present in different forms at the RCMP station – harassment, threats, assault – but within the schools, RCMP deal with the problem informally, through school resource officers and D.A.R.E, an elementary school program that provides students with the tools they need to make better choices in difficult situations. Positive decision-making, bullying, peer pressure and dealing with stress are some of the issues touched on.
“The schools are vigilant about staying abreast of what happens on their property,” Murray said.
Thanks to the Internet, social media and mobile devices that allow anonymity and near instant communication, the traditional rules of bullying have changed. No longer the domain of the schoolyard, bullying is now a 24/7 problem, often with nowhere to escape it.
“Name-calling, threats, lies, rumours and gossip – these are all part of texting and bullying, and they happen every day,” RCMP Constable Geoff MacKay told a parent group from R.S. Fowler school recently.
David Keohane, superintendent of Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools, said the division recognizes the importance of community partnerships in dealing with bullying – presentations from RCMP and support counselling for parents and victims of bullying are two examples.
“The parent is the most important educator of the child. Cyber bullying is an insidious challenge, but our level of influence isn’t there after 3:30,” Keohane said. “Students can be resilient to the poor examples they see on Facebook or elsewhere online, if parents monitor and reinforce their values – what’s acceptable behaviour for their child.”
Keohane said keeping computers in common areas of the home, not allowing kids to take their personal devices to bed with them, and asking who they’re talking to keeps the lines of communication open and can help kids stay away from poor choices.
“Bullying resides everywhere. We have to be attentive to it,” he said. “At the schools, we always respond – no concern is diminished. Students know what’s expected of them, and what’s not acceptable.”
