JASON COLERO
Toronto Argonauts Manager, Community Relations
Jason Colero started as a water boy and now, 26 years later, he’s the heart and soul of Argos’ community outreach programs. The friendly and energetic Manager of Community Relations now educates youth through a myriad of programs he leads throughout the GTA.
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TORONTO — On March 10, 2011, the United States government introduced an anti-bullying policy making principals responsible for students’ activities on and off school property, including social media. There are some privacy concerns with this policy but in my opinion I believe that students should always refrain from bullying behaviour – regardless if it’s within the walls of the school or not. The fact that this issue was addressed by a federal government signifies how important it is that we never sweep this issue under the rug as well as the role social media plays within the lives of our youth of today.
The other day, I was sent a YouTube file that showed one boy being filmed while he bullied another boy who openly appeared irritated by the situation. It wasn’t a surprise to see the victim retaliate and physically harm the boy doing the bullying. Some might even say that it’s the best way to deal with a person who is bullying. That’s not always the case and there can be a lot of negative consequences that arise from such a reaction. The victim in the online video chose physical retaliation to try and stop the situation, but his actions could have seriously, even fatally, injured the bully. Bullying victims understand what it’s like to be hurt both physically and emotionally, and even though the bully’s intentions are usually to inflict pain, typically that’s not the goal of the victim. In most cases, the victim just wants it to stop.
That said, the actual bullying situation, including the reaction of the victim, didn’t bother me as much as the bystanders that did nothing to change the situation, even going so far as filming the ‘show’ on an electronic device. The unfortunate truth is that there are few kids using electronic devices to demonstrate to the world someone upholding the pillars we promote through our programme: Support, Report, Defend. I’m sure many of you have seen the video in question filter through your inbox and now it’s an instant internet sensation. Think for a moment, how powerful could the same video be if it were a real situation demonstrating when bullying was stopped using peaceful measures? In the case above, chances are that a few simple words could have diffused the event quickly and harmlessly.
As we continue to take players and cheerleaders into schools in the GTA, we hope that we can make a difference in one child’s life. Maybe that person is the one who refuses to allow someone (a classmate, a friend or even a stranger) to be mistreated? Many people don’t even know about the number of students we have affected, mainly because that’s not the information that is published or talked about in public. It is extremely rewarding to hear teachers and staff tell us how students talked openly about the issue of bullying after we left. It simply means that the awareness part of our campaign is working. The feedback from the staff, of course, doesn’t include the countless stories from kids via email and letters. In fact, at a couple of presentations some students spoke up about how they were, at that very moment, enduring a bullying situation. In some cases their situation was dire. Now, schools are addressing these situations head-on, but we need those who are being bullied to speak out so that they can find help.
The latest addition to our Facebook page is a Huddle Up tab. Hopefully, it will be part of the platform and voice that students need to be heard. Each and every player who has shared his personal story, from the past to present; Adrion ‘Pee Wee’ Smith to Ricky Foley, is rewarded to hear that his message has been relayed in the halls and, now, online. It was normal for a student to yell out the acronym ‘R.A.R.E’ during an assembly that Adrion Smith led. He taught them that Respect, Attitude, Responsibility & Education are among the keys to being a good citizen. Foley has his own approach based on personal experiences, the point is that the message is the same and the students are listening. Now students are reciting those messages in person and online.
My hope is that we have more people using internet tools, like our Facebook tab, as the voice of positivity and guidance, instead of a weapon for bullying. Please help us by liking us on Facebook and demonstrating that our efforts are not in vain.
Make your passion your Life and No one can take that away.
Jason