Dear Editor,

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines bullying as “any unwanted aggressive behaviour by another youth or group of youth, who are not siblings or current dating partners, that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated. Bullying may inflict harm or distress on the targeted youth, including physical, psychological, social, or educational harm. Common types of bullying include physical, such as hitting, kicking, and tripping; verbal, ,including name-calling and teasing; relational/social, such as spreading rumours and leaving out of the group; and damage to property of the victim. Bullying can also occur through technology, which is called electronic bullying or cyberbullying. A young person can be a perpetrator, a victim, or both (also known as bully/victim).”

Bullying is an epidemic in Jamaica. The CDC’s definition of bullying speaks to youth. However, in Jamaica bullying is done by students, teachers, parents, pastors, police, politicians, and various others in positions of control and power. To date, the culture of bullying is only met with statements or a passing address by the school’s representative, usually principal, dean of discipline, or guidance counsellor. What they do not get is that perfunctory approaches are useless!

The matter of bullying only gets the occasional talk when some news of scandal, embarrassing video, or death has occurred. Damage control moves into high gear in the interest of the institution.

Our sick society is filled with prayers and Bible verses. We hide behind “blessed and highly favoured” declarations. But adults and children alike are suffering from bullying fever. Many bullies were themselves victims of bullying.

Maybe we do not understand the problem. Maybe it is that we are not seeing the long-term effects of bullying on mental health, physical health, production levels and so on. Maybe we are avoiding the painful truth since it might make our organisation look bad. That a blatantly proud bully could be elected president of the United States of America says much about the western world, which prides itself on being bastions of democracy.

Jamaica can heal. We can become a better version of ourselves as individuals and as a nation. Starting with the various arms of government and in particular the ministries of education and health, a national programme of anti-bullying must of necessity be included in the character-building curriculum. Most importantly, every member of a school community ought to be involved in this healing campaign.

Every member of staff, ancillary included, must be sensitised to identify bullying and empowered to unite in helping the school community to cultivate an environment of compassion, peace, and justice. This will be heavy lifting since some teachers are already locked into a system of bullying. There are even schools where the chief bully is the principal. The good news, however, is that this can change.

There is an abundance of information on how a culture of anti-bullying may be fostered and maintained. Since this is not a sexy subject, it will not receive much attention. Mark my words, though, before 2023 is ended we will see more shocking news and videos coming out of our schools. And get ready for more shocking news from school sports.

Character-building and human rights sensitisation ought now to be institutionalised if we are going to experience transformational change. The success of everything in Jamaica hangs on this transformational change, bearing in mind that this is a strategic process with definite processes and anticipated outcomes. The approach then must transcend passing slogans and campaigns. Hello? Anyone there? Is anyone listening?

May the hope inspired by the message of Christ’s resurrection inspire us to revive a new way of being for our schools and nation. May the powers that be find the political will to move in the direction of much-needed change. Please know that we can do it. Yes, we can!

Fr Sean C Major-Campbell

Servant priest

Christ Church

Vineyard Town

seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com