Are you keeping your children safe?

Are you fully aware of what your children are doing at school? Do you take their daily updates? Imagine your child gets bullied by their classmates, who warn them not to tell their parents, threatening worse treatment if they do.

Let's get to know Lamisa Ahmed; she had to change schools three times during her school life. This comes from her experience at her first school while studying at a local private primary school in Mohammadpur. She was a new student, excited about her first day at school. Everyone welcomed her warmly, and she was thrilled to be at her new school for the first few days. However, this happiness was short-lived.

After three days, Lamisa began to cry frequently at school. She felt weak because her classmates and even some teachers were bullying her.

She was so distraught that she couldn't tell her parents about it. She avoided the topic whenever they asked about her day, saying, "I am going to sleep; I want to talk about it later."

One week later, a teacher accused her of faking illness to avoid school. Lamisa explained, "No, miss, I am not doing it intentionally. I was very sick for a few days."

On a rainy day, she asked some friends to play outside. They reluctantly agreed but tricked her into standing in the rain alone. She fainted and was later found by a teacher who scolded the other students and called Lamisa's parents.

Another day, during a class break, a friend started tapping a pencil forcefully on the bench and then intentionally stabbed Lamisa's hand, causing it to bleed. Another friend mockingly pinned a hard paper clip onto Lamisa's ear the following day. When Lamisa tried to remove it, the friend threatened her, falsely claiming her uncle was the school principal and could have her expelled.

Lamisa didn't know the truth about her friend's uncle back then. She was bullied with a pencil in her hand and had a clip trapped in her ear, adding to her trauma and physical pain.

Reflection

Often, children suffer in silence due to fear of repercussions or lack of trust in adults. Lamisa's story is a testament to that. As guardians and educators, we are responsible for creating an environment where children feel unsafe, unheard, and unsupported. So, what can we do? What should we do to make our younger ones feel safe when they have to spend more of the day?

Open communication

Please encourage your children to talk about their day without fear of judgment. Ask questions like, "Did anything make you feel uncomfortable today?" or "With whom did you spend time at school?"

Create a safe space at home where your child feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences. Regularly discuss their school day during family meals or bedtime routines.

Monitor changes

Be vigilant about changes in your child's behaviour or mood. Sudden withdrawal, anxiety, unexplained anger, or reluctance to go to school could be signs of bullying. Attention to physical signs such as unexplained bruises, cuts, or damage to personal belongings is also essential.

School Policies

Advocating anti-bullying policies and support systems in schools is what parents should talk about. Attending parent-teacher meetings and discussing the school's procedures for handling bullying incidents is one of the ways to do that.

Empathy and support

Anti-bullying policies are necessary, but parents and teachers should teach their students about love and compassion for their classmates and animals. Use role-playing at home to help your child understand how to respond to bullying and seek help from trusted adults.

By fostering open communication, monitoring changes in behaviour, advocating for strong school policies, and teaching empathy, we can work together to create a safe and nurturing environment for all children. Let's ensure no child has to endure what Lisa experienced.

Samiha Mamun is an undergraduate student of Army IBA (Affiliated to Bangladesh University of Professionals), Savar, Dhaka.

Najiha Mamun is a high school student at Summerfield International School (SFIS), Dhaka. 

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