WATCH: “Just quit the bullying”

Monday 11 March 2019

A Year 7 Le Rocquier student has issued an emotional plea to bullies after learning her classmates consider it one of the biggest problems at school.

“Just be a normal regular kid and quit the bullying," Eliana told tormentors, as she took on the role of Children’s Commissioner for one day last week.

Assisted by her friend Lucy, she spent the day with her adult counterpart, Deborah McMillan, meeting her team, Ministers and representatives from the Government of Jersey and Jersey Sport.

Video: Eliana's emotional plea to bullies.

Having carried out a survey at Le Rocquier School with students from Year 7 and 11, Eliana and Lucy also discussed its findings during their "many meetings", which included a lunch with the Education Minister, Senator Tracey Vallois, and the Children and Housing Minister, Senator Sam Mézec.

One of the biggest issues that stood out in the responses of the survey was bullying - something the young girl told Express must stop.

"It's not fair to anybody in the world. Who cares about the sex, race, gender? Whatever!”

And she is here! Eliana (Children’s Commissioner for the day) and her friend Lucy, are presenting the results of their survey on disability to our team #participation #youngvoices #takeover @ChildComJersey @AndreaLeSaint2 pic.twitter.com/1CRZ5rUgf3

— Office of the Children’s Commissioner for Jersey (@OCCJersey) March 7, 2019

She later added: “So quit annoying us, quit bugging us to death, quit bullying us. Just be a normal regular kid and quit the bullying."

Her message comes around six months after a major survey by the Children's Commissioner revealed bullying to be one of the biggest problems facing children across primary and secondary schools in Jersey. At the time it was undertaken, over 120 students reported having suffered a physical attack in the past four weeks.

Nursery school pupils as young as three said they were worried about being teased and shouted at, while other children said that their bullying fears had been belittled or even ignored by teachers.

Nearing the end of Eliana’s time as Children’s Commissioner. A fantastic day and a big thank you to all involved, especially Eliana and Lucy for raising issues around disability with such passion. @TAVallois @ChildComJersey @LeRocquier @JerseySport @AndreaLeSaint2 @ReformJersey pic.twitter.com/IWWIuL5HD4

— Office of the Children’s Commissioner for Jersey (@OCCJersey) March 7, 2019

As she uses a frame to walk, another key issue for Eliana was access. She met Anna Hamon from the government’s policy team to discuss the disability strategy.

Mrs McMillan said: "Whilst Eliana has really good access to her school, she said that when she goes into town or perhaps has to go to other public service buildings she finds it tricky to access the buildings and also to find proper areas for disability parking."

Eliana also discussed access to physical activities with representatives of Jersey Sport, explaining that she finds it hard to go to certain parks or places with uneven grounds. "She spoke very clearly about the need to have those needs taken into consideration," Mrs McMillan said. 

What a privilege to spend a day with Eliana who was the ‘Children’s Commissioner for a day’ and her assistant Lucy. We heard about how we can improve things for children with disabilities @TAVallois @ReformJersey pic.twitter.com/M43APYEqKw

— Deborah McMillan (@ChildComJersey) March 7, 2019

Describing the day as fruitful, Mrs McMillan said the experience is one the Office of the Children's Commissioner hopes to replicate every year.

"Eliana has had the opportunity to speak out not just her own thoughts and feelings about it, but she's spoken to other children in her school by undertaking a survey. It's been really valuable for us and for the Ministers to listen to those real life experiences."