No to bullying!

Dolphin Schools
Clara van Niekerk


On 5 February 2016 The Dolphin Elementary School was the proud host of the Headline Entertainment's anti-bullying puppet show for Grade R - 3 and their live action anti-bullying skit for Grade 4 - 7. Their show was the talk of the school as the young learners were both educated and entertained.


Headline Entertainment in cooperation with Henties Fruit Juice were invited by the Principal of Dolphin Elementary, Mr Victor Rigby, for the edification of the young learners about the dangers of bullying and how one doesn't always fully understand the troubles and hardships that bullying brings.


“Without the proper education and training for all involved, bullying will continue to flood our schools and destroy lives. It is not as simple as one child bullying another. Far too often we see that children learn to become bullies when they get older because they were the victims of bullying. It is my sincerest belief that if we have any hope of stemming the tide then we need to start today. Mr Wolmarans and Headline Entertainment's shows' helps our children understand the difficult concept rather than seemingly arbitrary rules by grown-ups. The Dolphin Elementary thanks them for their efforts and they are welcome back any time”, said Mr Victor Rigby after the event.


According to a survey undertaken in 2013 where 2064 pupils were polled regarding bullying in South African schools 57% of pupils admitted to being bullied by their fellow classmates or children older than themselves.
52% of the pupils surveyed in South Africa said that bullying at their school comprised mainly of teasing and insults, while 26 percent said it was characterized by being pushed, hit or beaten.


With our modern world and tech-savvy teens we have seen the spawning of a different kind of bullying, namely cyber-bullying. The survey also measured incidents of cyber-bullying at schools, with 16 percent saying being threatened or insulted via cellphones, e-mail or social media.


The problems of bullying cannot be left to teachers alone and school will need to rely on outside sources such as those that Mr Daniel Wolmarans and Headline Entertainment provide.