A tour of all the elementary schools for Anti-Bullying Day took on extra meaning at John Field Elementary School last week.
Several members of the Gitxsan Health Society delivered inspiring messages, but it was a grandmother of a student who passed away two days before his 10th birthday that held the attention of the Grade 4 to 7 students.
Cylace Sampson, who would be in Grade 7 this year, passed away from complications relating to a tooth infection.
When he was healthy he always let those around him know what he thought about bullying.
“He always said love is louder,” Betty Sampson, Cylace’s grandmother said. “He used to get bullied on the bus and here at school. It really hurt him, but it also hurt me and the rest of our family.”
No matter how much Cylace was bothered at school he managed to remain positive.
“We didn’t know what to do about it,” Betty said. “But he just kept on smiling and being happy. He really lived the ‘love is louder’ way of life despite being treated poorly by some here at school.”
Betty had some wisdom to impart to all gathered for the JFE assembly.
“Treat people with respect and honour,” she said. “Don’t let somebody stand alone. If you see somebody alone go talk to them and include them in what you’re doing. That’s how we get stronger as a community.”
Julie Morrison, GHS executive health director, made sure the students understood the power of language.
“It’s important to understand that what we say and do has potential to hurt others,” Morrison said.
Examples of bullying were given by students which included name calling, laughing at someone after a mean joke at their expense, physically hurting another in any way and leaving someone out of an activity.
The rise of technology in schools has created another potential avenue for bullying, Morrison said.
“It’s not like saying something to another person,” she said. “A person can go back and see that over and over again.”
Richard Sampson, GHS FAST program coordinator, urged students to seek people to talk to whenever problems arise.
“Even if you can’t find a person in your family to talk to and share your problems with there are people in your school and community that are always willing to listen,” he said. “You can’t carry around all that hurt for very long ... it starts to weigh you down after awhile.”
Richard used a dwindling fire as analogous to feeling down.
“There are people you know that can turn those glowing embers of good into a fire,” he said.