Saying no to bullying
The National, Tuesday February 9th, 2016
By TONY PALME KIP
PORT Moresby Grammar School is setting the pace to reduce school bullying so that students can receive quality education.
Into its third week of classes, the school launched its 2016 anti-bullying campaign yesterday which will run throughout the year.
The school, in liaison with the Student Services, launched the campaign stressing on educating students through awareness about what bullying is and its impact on those being bullied.
Director of student services Joachim ToRavit said Port Moresby Grammar was trying to put a stop to bullying.
He said bullying existed in all schools where a student or group of students teased students which could impact negatively on their behaviour and attitude towards learning.
“The scars of bullying can affect the ones being bullied for the rest of their lives,” ToRavit said.
“It’s best we stop it here to send message to other schools.”
He also shared his experiences of being bullied in school and how he struggled to fight against it.
He said bullying could affect a child from prep and elementary to primary school and high school and to tertiary institutions and even to the workplace.
“We want to stop it and educate students to respect each other and to think positively by having a high self-esteem,” ToRavit said.
The theme ‘Make a Change’ was taken from Michael Jackson’s song Man in the Mirror.
Students were reminded that change started within the person they see in the mirror. ToRavit said a group of students sang the theme song while the full cohort of 1000 plus students joined by teachers, formed a human blue ribbon in the main courtyard representing the campaign. He said during the week, students would be taking part in many anti-bullying activities including creating posters, having discussions and watching anti-bullying videos.