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Stamping out bullying on the Rim of Hudson Bay
Students and educators of Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik, located in Rankin Inlet, the second most populated community of Nunavut, have been taking a few notes on bullying prevention. Since welcoming Canadian Red Cross violence and abuse prevention trainers this past fall, they have been working hard to banish bullying behaviour from their classes, hallways, and schoolyard.
"Bullying is a community issue, but teachers want to do their part to help make their schools safer," says Norm Jakubowski, a member of the violence and abuse prevention team. "If we truly believe kids are our future, we need to invest in them and make sure they grow up healthy and happy, no matter where they live in Canada."
At the training, teachers were taught how to empower children to take action upon bullying when they see it happen. Teachers have now selected eight junior-high students to train their peers and pass along the message of the importance of standing-up to bullying.
In a letter to the Canadian Red Cross, guidance counsellor Harold Peach explained the progress that has occurred since the training. Peer trainers, who were garbed in bullying prevention t-shirts, presented at their school assembly and are now preparing to take their message from classroom to classroom. By year’s end, it is hopeful that every student in the school will count a bullying prevention t-shirt among their wardrobes along with bullying prevention training under their belts.
"We are taking this slow and do not expect overnight changes, however, we will gradually educate students," said Harold. "We are hoping that students will acquire skills to eliminate bullying in our school."
The Canadian Red Cross promotes anti-bullying education through RespectED, a program that aims to stop bullying before it starts.