Dear Editor,
Two Saturdays ago, I attended a ‘consultation’ at the Convention Centre organized by the Ministry of Education on its anti-bullying programme. Three ministers (Education, Human Services, and Home Affairs) spoke. After the ministerial presentations, we were told that members of the public would be permitted two minutes each to speak.
The Minister of Human Services wondered, perhaps rhetorically, whether bullying was a ‘learned behaviour’ and spoke of ‘accountability’ and ‘consequences.’ The Minister of Home Affairs spoke of ‘holding perpetrators accountable’ and asked for the ‘sharing of experiences about what works.’ The Minister of Education spoke of ‘eradicating bullying in all its forms,’ urged contributors to be ‘frank, avoid sugar-coating’ and described the bullying issue as ‘complex.’ We were also told that ‘moral education’ was about to be rolled out in schools. I noted their views because it is ‘good talk.’ However, our authorities have a history of ‘talking the talk but not walking the talk.’
Although it seems that starting with children as ‘low hanging fruit’ is a good idea, it is disingenuous to behave as though Guyanese children are not aware of big and small men bullying big and small women in many areas of life, or spouses bullying partners, or parents bullying children, or teachers bullying students, or employers bullying employees, or police bullying hapless citizens while ignoring and often enabling unlawful and lawless behaviours of the well-connected – with no negative consequences they can see. What our children do see, and learn, is that bullying works! It can inspire fear, which is mistaken for respect. Fear-based and power-based bullying are intended to instill fright, silence, compliance, submission, and subjugation in the bullied. The intention is to produce results that satisfy bullies and justify bullying behaviours. The intention is to facilitate dominance.
What our children see and learn is that when you have power, even if it is just a little power, even if it is just temporary power, it can be used to get what you want. What our children see and learn is that when powerless in the face of the powerful, just find someone who has less power, and use it on him or her. That can empower you. That can make you feel powerful and become powerful. That can ‘put them in their place!’ That can teach people not to mess with you! That can teach a lesson, to victims and onlookers, that no one will forget! Or at least intimidate them and others into timidity.
What our children instinctively know is that it makes sense to start practicing and perfecting power-based and fear-based bullying when young, not just as a survival skill to get through a childhood and adolescence replete with institutional and individual bullying bodies, but so that when they start accumulating the wherewithal of real power, they can be even more effective in achieving the ends they desire. My heart, and the hearts of many, bleeds for the Uitvlugt Primary school child whose tongue was slashed by a classmate and needed 18 stitches. My heart, and the hearts of many, bleeds for the mother calling for justice although she knows that even in the unlikely case of physical healing, her son’s capacity to eat, drink, speak, and communicate fearlessly will be forever compromised, as will his emotional, mental and psychological healing and well-being. And this is only the most recent report, and only one of many heartbreaking experiences children and their families have suffered.
Although the removal of the colonial Juvenile Offenders Act and its replacement by the Juvenile Justice Act, and the installation of principles of Restorative Justice are welcome, neither address the violence that is now the norm in our society. At the ‘consultation,’ I raised my hand to speak and was recognized. In keeping with the ministerial directives given at the commencement of the proceedings, and documented above, I began by pointing out that bullying was power-based, fear-based, and a learned behaviour. I noted that bullying behaviours of parents and teachers, not just children, must also be addressed. And I briefly shared the bullying of Subryanville residents by the businessman who erected a two-story school building taking over all of our Farnum Playground in violation of countless regulations and laws.
My intention was to follow up by proposing that instead of labelling the campaign ‘anti-bullying’ that a more positive term that all could align with, be used instead. I had in mind something along the lines of the “Be Kind” initiative launched by former Education Minister Manickchand early in her first term, but which was not implemented. Multiple ‘gender-based-violence’ projects in Guyana have not reduced this particularly pernicious form of bullying. It is long overdue to try a new approach. Socrates, who promoted dialogue, introspection, ethical living and active learning, said, “The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” (The authorities charged him with ‘corrupting the youth’ and sentenced him to death by poison in 399 BC.)
One speaker at the ‘consultation’ tentatively objected to the use of the term ‘bully.’ She did not get an opportunity to elaborate, but what I think she was getting at is that the label ‘bully’ would alienate some, and that a more inclusive, more embracing, less pejorative and less unkind word would make the programme more effective. It should surprise no one that everyone, including bullies, find the term off-putting, if not downright offensive! I agree with her, and this is, in essence, was where I was headed. However, when I got to the bullying of Subryanville residents I was rudely cut off, despite my indication to the Chairman that I was not done. I should state, for the avoidance of doubt, that none of the ministers present at the ‘consultation’ were rude to me. The Minister of Education agreed with the power- and fear-based analysis I offered, and admitted that the businessman and school I referred to did not have the Ministry’s approval.
I am aware that many women who seem well placed are constrained by powerful men in the spaces they occupy and are constrained by the real difficulties of institutional change. I treat them with respect. However, there is no escaping the fact that many fundamental principles of home affairs, human services and social security, and education are being violated, in the Subryanville playground example and other areas of life in Guyana. I am not a fan of punishment, but know that measures to protect victims and prevent perpetrators, especially violent perpetrators, from continuing to wreak havoc, are vital. One contributor at the ‘consultation’ proposed counseling for young bullies, and this was readily accepted by the authorities present. Counseling and therapy for big bullies in power must also be embraced and enacted, instead of the current aiding and abetting we witness.
Experience sharing: I, along with others, aware that violence breeds violence, worked for decades unsuccessfully to eliminate corporal punishment. A past government tried half-heartedly to end corporal punishment in the school system, but this was abandoned after an uprising of teachers who resented that this tool was being taken away from them – with consultation or consent! There are still many in our society who use it righteously, robustly recommend and defend it, excuse it, and call it ‘discipline.’ And there are those prideful survivors of corporal punishment that a friend memorably described as the ‘better-for-having-been-beaten brigade.’ And, we know the ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’ believers who never quote the line from the beloved 23rd Psalm, “Thy rod and staff shall comfort me.”
Raised by two educators and an educator myself, I know some things about teaching and learning. I applaud those organizations that have begun promoting and advocating for positive parenting approaches for everyone responsible for children. With consistent monitoring and evaluation, we can start learning what works. But we already know that when adults practice and model good behaviours they can, in time, become the norm for children, and in time, produce future generations of good, kind, decent, and healthy people.
Back to Subryanville: As a resident of this community for 70-plus years, I have seen the avenue in front of my family home become a dam. (My mother had to have part of the dam concreted to allow ingress and egress.) I have seen a dam become what is now Sheriff Street, with vehicles parked on much of the pedestrian sidewalks. I experienced weekend and holiday open-air seawall discos blasting music and garbage with impunity until it was clear that the sea defence was under intolerable strain, and they were relocated to the non-residential ‘beach front’ from Vlissingen to Water Street. I also saw the Atlantic Ocean roll over the seawall and inundate my yard and the yards of my neighbours. I am now happily seeing mangrove regrowth and hoping they will be protected against any callous removal with scenic ocean-viewing in mind.
Finally, readers should know that I was born to parents actively, but quietly, involved in our country’s transition from a colony, who welcomed Indian independence in 1947 (the year of my birth), the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, and Ghana’s independence in 1957 – and that I was never hit or bullied at home or at school, ever! Although a no-nonsense mother and teacher, I have never hit a child or other human being, ever. But I am most impressed by those professionals not as fortunate as I, who behave lovingly with children, among them being many nursery school teachers. I managed to salute them in my two-minute presentation. I thank your paper for the opportunity to express my views on bullying more fully.