This ‘bullying’ not new

The Ministry of Education and the minister have been hit the hardest by all the rhetoric and one is left with the impression that the ministry is complicit in the administration of its duty.

But we must remember that no system functions in isolation.

There is the human element involved that can make or break the system. As parents, we have a responsibility to fill the school system with children who respect and adhere to the rules. We need to teach our children what is right and acceptable and reinforce that with affirmation or disapproval as the situation dictates.

Bullying is the new label we give to verbal and physical aggression in school. And we have been raking the Minister of Education over the coal. But can Minister Anthony Garcia really be held responsible if we are not instilling values of consideration and respect for others.

A news report talks about a “bullying” incident where, during “a game of catch and rescue,” one child lost his permanent teeth when his playmate apparently struck him on the mouth with a soft drink bottle. Have you seen children play? Do you see how out of control they get, fast? How is it then that the Minister of Education is being blamed for this and served a pre-action notice.

Added to that, children have little sense of restraint. They get caught up in whatever form of play and only when the tears or injury come does everything come to a halt.

I can recall my childhood in primary of school of children getting pushed down on the courtyard, because of wild play; children falling down stairs resulting in broken limbs, because they were trying to get somewhere in a hurry and didn’t stop to think they may hurt someone.

Fast-forward decades later and we call every action where a child is hurt bullying and we take it a step further to crucify the minister. It is my view that Garcia is doing an excellent job in carrying out his duties, and he is even aided by a Minister of State who is not only capable but eloquent.

Come on people, what we are witnessing is not new. As a teenager I witnessed the same heckling, jeering, name-calling and physical exchanges that are now more widely seen thanks to smart phones and social media.

The point I am trying to make is that there is nothing new under the sun.

Children, like all human beings, experience intense emotions that we as parents have the responsibility to check and channel. We have to raise human beings who respect themselves and others, who are slow to speak, slow to become angry, and quick to listen to the guidance and wisdom of their elders, and in particular their parents.

LANA SINGH via email