Anti Bullying

Change Reaction

Interview with: Pastor Gary Simons

Cornerstone Ministry

Serena: Please describe to me why you got involved with anti-bullying?

Pastor Simons: I'm on a board called Chain Reaction started by Darrell Scott. He was the father of a Columbine student. His daughter, Rachel was one of the 13 students that were killed. I have been on the International board for 4 years. The Chain Reaction Program promotes not only pro-kindness
in schools, but attempts to make the student body sensitive to reaching out to others who are taken advantage of, bullied, or isolated from others. I started Chain Reaction Bermuda which falls under the program in the United States. The Premier has endorsed this effort amongst others.

Serena: I understand you had something to do with the Columbine High School and some of their students coming to Bermuda. What was the vision behind their visit?

Pastor Simons: That was a start to an assessment to see how everyone would respond to the students and their stories.

Serena: What advice do you have for students being bullied in and around our communities?

Pastor Simons: I would tell them to seek help, personal counseling is offered under Chain Reaction. Don't be nervous or scared to come forth because your efforts to seek help will benefit you in the long run.

Serena: Do you have any advice for parents whose children are being bullied?

Pastor Simons:Parents should get more involved in their children's lives including their social life which bullying falls under. It's important for their child to feel safe when attending school or elsewhere. Develop relationships with the school counselors, call them up to get information
about bullying and what student services can do to better help you and your child.

Serena: Do you think it is possible to stomp out bullying 100% in Bermuda?

Pastor Simons: We cannot eliminate bullying but what we can do is reduce it drastically. That has to be done by changing the culture in schools. Too often bullying is ignored but schools need to teach their students to come
forth with any information about bullying. If more friends would stick up for friends less bullying will occur.

Serena: As a counselor how many counselors do you feel are being proactive about bullying? In your opinion what do you think should be the ratio of student to counselor in schools?

Pastor Simons: Counselors are usually very busy people. They need a program to navigate bullying the proper way. This is where Chain Reaction comes in because the program that we are setting up is specifically targeting bullying. The ratio of student to counselor depends on the school, it's culture and tolerance on Bullying. In most cases teachers can really be the students counselors, they should be able to confide in them and trust their teacher to help them in serious situations.

Serena: Youth News recently hosted a Conference about Anti-bullying. What methods do you feel are most effective?

Pastor Simons: I think a network of students in school along with Chain Reactions student government can serve on the committee and come up with ideas and different ways to educate youth about bullying and present them with the proper ways to handle a bully etc. Chain Reaction will provide scholarships to those who display great character around our communities along with teacher and counselor support so we'll be offering activities and opportunities that will be beneficial to the youth in and around Bermuda.

Serena: What are the most popular forms of bullying that you have observed in Bermuda eg. (name calling, cyber bullying).

Pastor Simons: The number one form of bulling is verbal abuse. When students ostracize another student and
make them feel as if they aren't good enough to associate with them. Bullying is when someone harms you physically, mentally and emotionally. Bullying has been going on for years in schools, why do you feel it is increasing. In you opinion how has bullying changed since you were a
child compared to now?

Pastor Simons: The person bullying others is usually lacking confidence etc. It sometimes comes from the home and family life which should be evaluated through counseling. Through the years it has became a lot easier to get away with bullying. These days' students do it right in front of adults or people of higher authority with no consequences to face.

Serena: What are the best ways for victims to handle bullying from a peer?

Pastor Simons: I believe that the earlier you deal with it the better. In Bermuda's culture it's difficult. You really need to find someone you can trust, no one who will overreact and blow the situation up more than it
already is. That is usually what happens and because of that the child becomes embarrassed about his/her situation; each victim is different.
 

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