Operation Future tackles bullying in schools

Melissa Drew and Lufkin Foster learnt a lot from the Operation Future presentation.

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 17, 2012 (SKNIS): Students of the Tyrell Williams Primary School in Old Road have committed to become active agents in a bid to stop bullying and establish schools as a safe zone.

On Tuesday, Constable Lauston Percival of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and Dan MacMullin, both of Operation Future, facilitated a 45-minute interactive session to the young people outlining what is bullying, the varying types, ways it is carried out and how to react if one is a victim of bullying, or witnesses the act.

Sixth graders Melissa Drew and Lufkin Foster were enthused by the presentation and each said they learnt a lot.

The message was especially potent to Lufkin. “I was bullied already,” he admitted, recounting a past experience at a summer camp. If such a situation was to occur again, fighting back or keeping the incident private is not an option. “I will walk away and tell an (adult),” he stated.

Melissa, who is president of the student council, highlighted the practical aspects displayed on power point and demonstrated through role play. She stated that generally, the students were committed to work with teachers and Operation Future members to protect the school environment.

Students listen during Operation Future presentation.

Principal Terrence Edwards told SKNIS that Operation Future has had a productive relationship with the school and that while there are not many reports of bullying it was important to tackle the issue. The head teacher also “fully endorsed” Operation Future’s School Crime Watch initiative which recruits students to become crime watch officers responsible for looking after their peers and their school. They do this by reporting suspicious and bad behaviour to teachers.

According to its official website, Operation Future was founded in February 2005 and is designed to educate children about the dangers of crime, violence, drugs and other antisocial vices. Constable Percival revealed plans to enhance the reach of the message.

“One of the things we want to do is … get this presentation videotaped and (upload) it to YouTube and other social media networks so that persons around the world can view it and educate themselves and others about bullying.” he disclosed.

Constable Percival noted that he and other members will be available to make similar presentations to other schools and to camps over the summer and urged persons to contact the group to make arrangements. Contact information and other details are available at www.sknoperationfuture.com.