WHEN Paul and Elleo’s daughter was in fifth and sixth grade, she was treated as an outcast by her classmates due to resentment and jealousy bred by academic competition. The ill-treatment of their daughter escalated to verbal harassment and even physical attack at one point.
As millions of children head back to school this year, six in 10 Filipino students will have a similar experience, according to the survey conducted by the Programme for International Student Assessment.2 And in a report by UNICEF, the latest Philippine data show that 44% of male and 43% of female children aged 13-17 are affected by cyberviolence in the form of verbally abusive or sexual messages.
As parents search for ways to protect their children, a growing group of families are turning to an unlikely source for practical guidance: the Bible.
Paul and Elleo talked with their daughter about helpful scriptural principles they had learned through their faith as Jehovah’s Witnesses. “Bible principles have been effective and reliable,” said Paul. Then together, they studied verses about how to stick up for yourself the right way, how to treat people, and how to resist the urge to retaliate.
They also went to jw.org, the Witnesses’ official website, where a search for the term “bullying” brought up a wealth of free resources, including videos, articles, worksheets, and other online activities on topics young people face at school. Those resources include a whiteboard animation entitled Beat a Bully Without Using Your Fists and an animated cartoon about the powerful effect of prayer for those who are being bullied.
Paul and Elleo’s young daughter made efforts to win her bully over with kindness. At the same time, she applied the practical steps outlined in the videos to avoid instances and places where she could be bullied.
Allayza also credited these videos for helping her get through her tough elementary years. Sadly, the bullying she endured inflicted more than physical harm. “I felt worthless and alone. I lost interest in my studies. Once, I had a panic attack during class. I was unable to breathe, and I was trembling,” she said.
Reading the Bible and praying helped calm her anxiety. “I learned from the stories of people in the Bible who also experienced bullying,” she said. “Prayer also helped me tremendously. When I talk to God, I feel seen and heard. It helped me through the worst of my nightmares.”
“Not every situation resolves so easily. But applying the Bible’s advice and focusing on the big picture can help individuals cope and maintain their sense of self-worth,” said James Morales, Philippines spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses.
“The Bible has proven to be a practical resource for many families to navigate difficult situations in life,” said Morales. “The principles found in this ancient book can help adults and children resolve conflict and maintain peaceful relationships with others.”
Principles like the so-called Golden Rule of treating others as you would want to be treated, showing love, and being slow to anger are tools Paul said help his family in many circumstances. “My children can go to school with confidence, knowing that they have the tools to combat issues that they’re faced with.”/PN
