The Ministry of Education Transformation has instructed principals across Barbados to reinforce stranger-danger protocols with students following social media posts showing schoolchildren being approached by unfamiliar adults.
The warning followed a viral social media post by attorney-at-law Michelle Russell, who said, in the video, she intervened after witnessing an unfamiliar man speaking to three schoolboys.
Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw told Barbados TODAY that while the ministry had not received an official report about the incident, she issued a circular to principals after seeing posts showing people engaging with students.
“My concern is that they are targeting children and you will see in the memo that it speaks to guidelines for interacting with persons,” she said.
“I want the principals of the schools to reiterate that children are not to engage in extended conversations with strangers. They’re not to accept gifts, literature, invitations or other items from unknown individuals without the knowledge and approval of a parent, guardian or school official.”
In her social media post Russell said she was parking her vehicle at Sheraton Mall when she noticed a man accompanied by small children and a woman. She said the group was speaking to three schoolboys.
“I noticed this tall Caucasian man with about four or five children around him. I assume they’re his kids and a shorter lady as well but they were talking to these three school boys in uniform…between six and ten.”
Russell said the conversation continued for a prolonged period and said at least two of them appeared uncomfortable. She also observed that the man appeared to have a Bible in his hands.
She said she decided to intervene after noticing that the oldest boy appeared upset.
“I said ‘I see you as an adult over here talking to children without their parents, I’m coming to make sure they’re safe’,” Russell said, adding that the man told her he was preaching the word of God.
She said she informed him that as an adult speaking to children, the boys should be accompanied by a parent or teacher.
Russell said she then instructed the boys to go home, much to the man’s objection.
In a later post, Russell said the Ministry of Education Transformation subsequently issued notices on student safety and interaction with strangers, while Sheraton Mall also issued a notice prohibiting solicitation, distribution of materials and organised outreach on its premises.
The chief education officer said schools have now been asked to remind students not only about conversations with strangers but also about accepting material from people they do not know.
She also urged students to report approaches by unfamiliar adults that cause concern and remain vigilant when travelling to and from school, including while waiting at bus stops and other public locations.
“They should also reiterate in their assemblies and otherwise that students should report any approach by unfamiliar adults that causes concern and, as always, I want students to remain vigilant when travelling to and from school, when waiting at bus stops and other public locations. Student safety, of course, is of utmost concern.”
Dr Archer-Bradshaw also urged parents to reinforce the stranger-danger message with their children.
“We’re going to reiterate the messages within the school about stranger danger, but parents need to help us with ensuring that their children understand the threats that are out there when they’re travelling to and from school.”
Students have also been advised to report concerning approaches by unfamiliar adults to a teacher, principal, parent, guardian, or other trusted adult and to remain vigilant while travelling to and from school and at bus stops and other public places.
“Principals are also encouraged to remind staff to remain observant and to report any suspicious activity occurring on or near school premises through the appropriate channels,” the circular read.
Spokesperson for the Group of Concerned Parents Paula-Ann Moore described the alleged encounter as deeply disturbing and said it came amid other allegations of foreign proselytism involving children.
“The first of which is that it is within a context of other allegations of apparent foreign proselytism targeting our nation’s minor children, including gifting of tickets to watch an anti-LGBTQ movie.”
Moore said Barbados respects and welcomes various religious faiths and creeds, but said foreign nationals should also respect the country, its children and its way of life.
“While we are a nation who respects and welcomes various religious faiths and creeds, it is deeply disturbing if it is true that foreign nationals from more developed nations… could feel so emboldened that they could arrive… at the shores of Barbados, a lesser-developed country but still a sovereign nation, and approach our nation’s minor children – in public – without their parents or guardians either being present or having given prior consent. I am certain they could not engage in similar behaviour in their home countries.”
Moore said the incident should also serve as a lesson to parents that children can respect adults while still recognising that not all adults are safe.
“We must tell our children that it is okay to say ‘no thank you’ and remove themselves from a situation they are uncomfortable to be in. Even in a case where the adult — or even an older child — tries to entrap or guilt the minor child with ‘don’t you want to go to heaven’ as this foreign national allegedly did.”
Moore commended the ministry for its quick response but said she believes a wider public education campaign is needed.
“I think there’s a need for a [public service announcement] to be put out there for the wider community to make people aware of this and how we can talk to our children to reinforce those messages. I think the reinforcement has to be on multiple levels, at the home, at the school, [and] places of worship.”
She also questioned how long such activity may have been taking place and whether authorities had identified the people involved and spoken to them.
(LG)
