The word bullying and its annoying effects is not new to us except someone living under the rock. There have been wide reportage about this menace happening in schools around the world but no seemingly lasting solution to erase it completely from our schools and the society at large. We will look into it in details in the following paragraphs.
Something recently happened in a school in Nigeria. A 12 year old student of Dowen College, Lagos, Nigeria named Sylvester Oromoni Jr. died as a result of bullying by the senior students (numbering five) of the school.
It was reported that these senior students beat him viciously in his (Sylvester) hostel room after asking his roommates to leave the room.
Thereafter, they forcefully gave him a substance to drink. After beating him, the 12 year old Sylvester couldn’t walk without aid. He complained bitterly about stomach ache.
The stomach ache obviously was as a result of the substance he was forcefully given to drink. Sylvester would later succumb to his injuries and pass away days later.
Remember, He was only 12! The parents were devastated and have been calling for justice for their beloved Child.
This whole event begs the question: What did Sylvester do to this students that infuriated them to the extent of dealing mercilessly with him? The lad was too young to withstand the level of physical abuse meted out to him by his seniors.
On further reading, I realized that months earlier, Sylvester had reported to the school authority about gross misconduct by one of the seniors and the senior in question was suspended from school for weeks.
During that period of extension, perhaps the senior must have being cooking up a sinister meal to dish out to the now late Sylvester whenever he (the senior) resumes after the suspension.
It was also reported that these seniors were trying to lure Sylvester into some sort of secret cult but when Sylvester refused, they ganged up and beat him mercilessly for failing to join them in their cult.
Presently the case is in the court and I just wish the Oromoni family gets the highly needed justice for their late son.
This whole issue has its root cause on the background of families across the world. The progress and sanity of a society is directly proportional to the progress and sanity of individual families. Parents should do more in raising their kids in the right way.
In time past, the olden days precisely in the African tradition, parents are not the only one that train their kids, other parents or elders in the society do well to discipline a child when he/she errs.
Nowadays, you’ll be in serious trouble with the parent(s) of a child when you scold their child. Every child must be raised right and given a great childhood.
Michael Jackson once said that: The problems of the world, from inner city crimes to large scale wars and terrorism are result of the fact that children has had their childhood taken away from them. I strongly believe this.
In Nigeria, for instance Many parents are fond of saying things like “God Forbid, It can never happen to my child” When will you stop saying "God forbid" and start to be intentional about the life of your children?
This annoying several bullying and molestations occurring in various schools (boarding and day schools) is a big disaster crippling our educational system.
This is not the first story of a child being bullied to death and it may not be the last as long as we keep saying and acting like it’s none of our business.
We hear these heart breaking stories but we do nothing about it. We pretend like it is not real. Our children are so scared of us that they can’t even share their experiences with us.
Children should be open to their parents at all times and never fail in expressing their deepest fears either in school or the community they are bred in. Parents should do well in instilling a fearless spirit in their children.
We should not be too busy with life that we won’t be able to read the handwriting on the wall. We shouldn’t become so dull of hearing the silent cries of our children.
I know parenting is not easy but don't settle for the easy way out - not confronting the realities of life. Face it, give it the attention it deserves. You are not just only saving your child in the process, you are also saving other children as well. Think about it!
The schools around the world on the other hand should place stringent punishment for bullies so that it will serve as a deterrent to other bullies. The school shouldn't act lackadaisical to this menace.
It is so bad that after students report bully act on them to the school authorities, no action will be taken because the school feels its a normal thing owing to the fact that it happens all the time.
CCTV (close-circuit Television should be installed at strategic locations in the school premises so that evidence will be transparent enough about a bully case.
I earnestly look forward to the demise of bullying and molestations especially in our schools.
Thanks for reading!
See y’all on the next one!
