Bullying in schools requires urgent attention – CPCE Principal, Viola Rowe (SASOD, GRPA’s YAM Launch Essay Competition for Students)

The head of Guyana’s national teacher-training institution has called for urgent attention to curb bullying the nation’s schools. Viola Davis, Principal of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) gave the warning at a reception to commemorate Spirit Day last Thursday on October 18, 2018 at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Georgetown.Rowe delivered the keynote address highlighting the challenges faced by students who experience bullying on a constant basis in the country’s schools. The event was hosted by Guyana’s Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD Guyana) and the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association’s Youth Advocacy Movement (GRPA’s YAM) with support from the British High Commission in Guyana as part of their activities this October to markBullying Prevention Month.

Also attending the event were H.E. Sandra Granger, First Lady of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, H.E. Greg Quinn and Ms. Wendy Quinn, British High Commissioner to Guyana and spouse, H.E. Lilian Chatterjee, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. Martin Oditt, UNAIDS Country Director, other members of the diplomatic corps, civil society representatives, youth volunteers, private sector representatives and other key stakeholders. The reception featured a short programme including remarks from British High Commissioner, along with musical renditions and the recitation of an anti-bullying pledge. 

(Left to Right) Ms. Wendy Quinn looks on while First Lady Sandra Granger signs the guest book at last week’s Spirit Day reception at the British High Commissioner’s residence.

In her remarks, Rowe appealed to all stakeholders including school partners and corporate society, to “act now in observance of Spirit Day 2018 to make commitments to join the fight to stop bullyingagainst LGBTQ persons and by extension, those who are targets because of their race, ethnicity, gender, physical appearance, financial status, religious persuasion, or intellectually ability.”

Rowe also emphasized that schools have a legal and moral obligation to ensure that learners are exposed to safe learning spaces, adding that bullying must be curbedat its roots to ensure that the learning environment is safe for everyone, including teachers. She explained to the gathering that the impact of bullying on academic performance continues to become progressively negative because of the stress and mental distress caused. The CPCE Principal insisted that bullying, especially against minorities,is an issue to be brought to the top of the list of social school issues, requiring urgent attention as access to education is fundamental for the youth of Guyana. She added that bullying is a threat to public health as it has major negative effects on persons’ mental and physical health, resulting especially in depression, anxiety, distress and ultimately, suicide. She assured the audience that CPCE is adamant in the promotion of love, care, respect, tolerance and cohabitation. 

PCE Principal, Ms. Viola Rowe, delivering the keynote address.

British envoy,H.E. Greg Quinn in his remarks stated that he has been dismayed by some of the “provocative and downright inaccurate comments” made about LGBTQ people.  Quinn stated that there is no excuse for such ill-informed commentary and it cannot be dressed up as free speech as free speech does not mean license to incite hate and violence. Quinn urged the audience to not be dismayed by the ill-informed abuse and violence but to stand up for equal rights and ensure that no one faces persecution because of who they are or who they love.

Before closing the programme, SASOD and GRPA’s YAM launched an essay writing competition for students in Grades 7 to 9 enrolled in any secondary school in Guyana. The topic for the essays is “There should be effective policies and redress mechanisms to curb all forms of bullying and discrimination against students and teachers in Guyana’s schools.” Students in Grades 7 to 9 are encouraged to contact SASOD or GRPA’s YAM for details of the rules and prizes of the competition and submit their essays by the November 16, 2018, deadline. 

A section of the gathering at the Spirit Day reception.

Spirit Day is an annual LGBTQ awareness day observed on the third Thursday in October. Started in 2010 by Canadian teenager Brittany McMillan, it was initially created in response to a rash of widely publicized bullying-related suicides of gay school students in 2010. The name "Spirit Day" comes from the purple stripe of the Rainbow flag, whose creator Gilbert Baker defined it as representing 'spirit'. Supporters wear the colour purple as a visible sign of support for LGBTQ youth and against bullying during National Bullying Prevention Month as well as to honour LGBTQ victims of bullying and suicide.