Take bullying seriously, counsellor urges parents

PRESIDENT of the Jamaica Association of Guidance Counsellors in Education (JAGCE), educational psychologist Kirk Morris, has urged parents of children who are being bullied to document and keep a detailed record of incidents, which he says is vital to not only safeguarding the child but in building a case so school officials can act.

At the same time, Morris, a seasoned guidance counsellor, says parents should avoid labelling the aggressor even while seeking interventions as oftentimes such children inflict on their peers what they themselves are experiencing.

Addressing a recent virtual forum hosted by the Farquharson Institute of Public Affairs, Morris said parents — after ascertaining that their children are being bullied — should keep dates, description of the incidents, names of the people involved, witnesses, and screen shot messages in instances where bullying is done online.