Putting a stop to bullying
By Chris Simon

Kid Safe Productions consultant Tricia Myles Dutcher speaks during an interactive play at Cookstown Central Public School Thursday. Dutcher and partner Photo by Chris Simon Janice Peters held the play and a workshop for students, which were aimed at preventing bullying. Kid Safe holds performances across the province.

Tricia Myles Dutcher knows what it's like to be picked on.

As a child, she was constantly teased and bullied. Now, she's trying to prevent bullying from taking place in schools and the community. As a consultant with Kid Safe Productions, Myles Dutcher tours schools around the province, speaking to students about the ills of bullying.

She says the act is no longer socially acceptable behaviour.

"When I was growing up, I was bullied tremendously," she said, sparkles on her face as she prepared to preform in a play at Cookstown Central Public School last week. "I was told to get over it, it builds character. It builds plenty of character but kids don't need to go through that."

Myles Dutcher and colleague Janice Peters held bullying prevention workshops and the interactive play for students in Cookstown last week. The goal of the activities was to raise awareness of bullying, and attempt to prevent it from happening.

"Mainly, the focus is on what to do if you're standing by and you see bullying," she said.

"We'll poll the kids at the beginning of the show and ask how many kids have seen bullying. Almost every one of them puts their hand up. Most teachers know it's there, but they don't see it. We put the onus on them to put the stop to things before it gets out of hand."

Students in Kindergarten to Grade 4 attended the play, which featured puppets, music and dancing. Older students participated in the workshops, which included discussions on bullying techniques and an explanation of why the practice is now considered unacceptable.

"Kids can build their own character and become who they are without having to battle through something like that," said Peters.

Last month, new provincial legislation came into effect which, for the first time, labels bullying as a suspendible offence in schools.

Under the legislation, bullying is defined as any act of persistent and aggressive behaviour that is intended to cause fear, distress or harm to another person's body, feelings, self-esteem or reputation. The legislation also encourages progressive discipline in schools, by requiring staff to host mediation conferences with affected students and their parents, before suspensions are issued. Myles Dutcher is glad to see the province has taken steps to prevent bullying in schools.

"The fact that it's in the news and the government is recognizing it is great," she said. "It's saying teachers can't ignore (bullying). They're getting training and permission to handle this."

Anyone being bullied should talk to a trusted adult, said Myles Dutcher.

For more information on Kid Safe programs, visit www.kid- safeproductions.com.