New Youth Created Resource Available To Stop Bullying
It happens in the workplace, at school, on the playground and on the Internet. It can even happen at home. Bullying is something that concerns everyone, and youths in particular seem to be the most vulnerable to this form of harassment. Members of the Bully Blockers, an anti harassment group at St. Stephen High School, work hard to make sure that every student at the school is able to be themselves and not feel victimized in what should be a safe environment, and teacher Jennifer Ives said that they don’t always receive enough recognition for all of the work they do.
“These kids work so hard. They’re out there all the time, coming up with activities and new things to do. People don’t realize how much these kids actually do,” said Ives, who says it bothers her that so many kids are picked on in the school system.
Robert Frenette of Bathurst, a 17 year-old who said he has been subjected to bullying in the past himself, decided not to just sit back and take it, but to do something about it. He contacted the media, and did interviews on the subject. He and a Nova Scotia youth also created www.bullyingcanada.ca, the first anti-bullying website designed by youths for youths.
“We (Frenette and Brandon Walker) were both victims of bullying. I went through it for about 11 years or so. I went through some physical bullying. I was burnt on the back of the neck with a lighter by a female student on the bus. I went through some name-calling and things like that.
“I did a story with CTV News, and he (Walker) saw the story. We spoke for a bit, and decided to do a website with something that hasn’t been created by youth in Canada at that time. There’s other sites out there, but none youth geared and youth created,” said Frenette.
The Bully Blockers say they are excited to see a new website about bullying, created by youths, for youths. On January 1, the website was launched, and the site’s creator is seeing a large amount of visitors who are interested in learning more about bullying and its effects.
Grade 10 student Shannon Babcock, a member of the Bully Blockers, said she was impressed with the website and the tips given to victims, bystanders and bullies.
“It tells you if you are the victim what you can do, like walk away or tell someone you trust. It’s a site someone could go to if they were being bullied and they needed help to figure out what to do,” said Babcock, adding that she thought that no one tip was better than the other, as they are all equally important.
Frenette and Walker, who also had his run-ins with bullies, began working on ideas for a website. The pair started organizing everything back in November, and in just a few short months, created something that is generating interest from many people and organizations.
Frenette said, “Basically, the site has some strategies for victims and bystanders from bullies. It also has a link sheet where people can get access to other anti bullying websites across the country and around the world. We have some new things coming in. We have an e-newsletter called ‘youth voices’ that goes out twice a month, with news stories on bullying, youth centred.”
“I like the newsletter,” said Grade 12 student Marcy Wiggins.
“I like that they talk a lot about Internet dangers and Internet etiquette and stuff in the newsletter. In the past few years, even more than when I was in middle school, is Internet bullying, one of the scariest kinds. They said Facebook can be used negatively. I have friends who have been threatened over the Internet like crazy.”
Ives said that she just recently learned about the website, and thinks it’s a great idea. She said they recently gave a presentation to Grade 8 students who would be entering high school this fall, and said the website would have been great to mention to them.
Ives remarked, “I found it really interesting because the bully, victim and bystander are the three groups that we talk about, and there’s the same tips we talk about. In the newsletter, there’s also a parent section, and there was some good advice as to what to do if you’re a parent of a child who’s being bullied. I found that really good. We did middle school presentations, and I wish we would have mentioned that, had we known about it. We mention the Kids Help Phone and our programs, but that’s another tool that people in the community can easily access. We’re doing Grade 5 presentations next week, so we’ll mention it if we have the opportunity.”
The anti-bullying strategies came from an anti-bullying committee at the high school in Bathurst. If a person is being bullied they should utilize these strategies, which include the victim walking away from the bully and telling someone they trust about the harassment. There are categories for victims, bystanders and bullies, and Frenette said there are four or five different strategies in each category.
One interesting strategy to use when facing a bully is to compliment them on something, which will temporarily distract them. Another is to socialize with groups to avoid being confronted by a bully. Using humour can often diffuse a tense situation when dealing with a bully.
Bystanders can also do something to help someone who is being bullied. If they see someone being victimized, they can move next to that person, letting the bully know that someone is there to help. By befriending the victim, they can show that person that someone does care. A bystander can also use his or her voice, and tell the bully to stop what they are doing. They can talk to a teacher or someone else they trust.
“You need to make sure you tell someone if you notice bullying,” Frenette remarked.
Wiggins, who has been a Bully Blocker throughout her entire high school career said, “I thought it was good. I thought the bystander section was a little bit smaller than it could be. It doesn’t say anything about how to react. I find a lot of people encourage fight situations. Don’t give a bully power. Most people are bystanders, so it’s the most important category.”
There are even tips on the website for bullies, and not tips on how to be a better bully. Bullies are asked to put themselves in the shoes of the person(s) they are bullying and see how they would feel if it were happening to them. If a person notices that they do tend to bully people, they should talk to a teacher, parent or counselor, and try to think before they act. As it says on the website, “hurting someone is not cool”.
Frenette said, “For the bully, it was more of trying to get them help and support on how they can change the way they’ve been acting.”
James DiPaolo, a Grade 11 student who is also a member of the Bully Blockers, said he thought the site was great, and would recommend youths and adults to take the time to go over all of the important information. He was particularly impressed with the links to other websites.
“They have a great list of different websites for more information on things they didn’t cover, or different opinions or answers. It’s all listed in there,” said DiPaolo.
The website recently changed its name from the original bullyingkidsspeakup.ca, and Frenette said has received a lot of good feedback for the information he is relaying to youths across Canada.
“On average, per month we have about 900 to 1,200 people visiting the site. What we were originally told to try to gear towards was about 500 people a month. I think the first month it was launched we got 500. After that, we’ve never gotten that low. On average, there’s about 900 visitors a month, minimum. It went pretty quick,” said Frenette.
Frenette is currently working with the Department of Education to link the bullyingcanada.ca site to the Government NB website under the education section, and has given presentations about bullying and harassment at high schools in his area. There is an area on his website where principals and teachers can contact him to speak at their schools.
Frenette said, “I’ve done three conferences here in Bathurst on bullying and intimidation. I was recently a speaker at a national Safe Schools conference in Toronto, and that conference was some strategies for educators, on things they could notice to make the schools safer. It’s a lot of work,” said Frenette, adding that it is extremely rewarding for him to know that he is helping others.
Frenette said the most important piece of advice he can give to people who are victims of bullying is to tell someone.
“Speak up is my key phrase that I’ve said in presentations and on the website,” Frenette commented.
Frenette’s site is definitely making waves among students, parents and educators. He said he has done numerous interviews with local media, and often has people on the street stop him to commend him on the work he is doing. He received the Chaleur Outstanding Youth Award, sponsored by the Bathurst Youth Centre, which recognizes youths who excel in different categories. Frenette was chosen to receive the award based on courage and bravery.
Frenette said, “I get approached sometimes three or four times a day by different high school students, thanking me for what I’m doing.”
Youths interested in volunteering their time to help bullyingcanada.ca can apply right on the website. He said that he has found a new 2nd webmaster, Jean-Guy Guindon, and is now looking for volunteers to assist with writing for the bi-monthly newsletter, researching news stories, and people with skills in art and photography.
Anyone who is interested in learning more about ending bullying may visit the website, and Frenette said it is free to register for the newsletter, which is sent out on the first and fifteenth of each month.
Story Reprinted With Permission.
