The governor and first lady have pledged to join the first family of Maryland in a nationwide effort to stop school bullying.

In a letter sent last week to their colleagues in state government, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and First Lady Katie O'Malley asked the de Jonghs to join them in committing to the “Stop Bullying, Speak Up” pledge. The pledge is a promise to keep alive the message that bullying is wrong, and adults need to speak up to prevent such behavior.

The O'Malley's initiative seeks to make one major point: bullying is not inevitable. Almost 100,000 Americans have already taken the pledge, as part of the national effort to stop abuse in schools.

“As governor of the Virgin Islands, I am deeply concerned about this issue confronting far too many of our students. Like Governor O'Malley, I promise to do everything I can, and speak up, to stop bullying and other abuse,” Governor de Jongh said.

The cause is one close to the heart of First Lady Cecile de Jongh, who has been a steadfast champion of anti-bullying measures in the Territory's schools. Through her work as chairperson of the governor’s Children and Families Council, and in cooperation with the Department of Education, Clemson University and other public and private sector partners, the first lady has often publicly discussed the serious challenges associated with peer-to-peer bullying, as well as the antisocial climate it can foster in institutions of learning, and some of the steps needed to combat the problem. 

The groundbreaking Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, which has proved successful in other parts of the country, is being piloted in several of the Territory’s schools in both districts, including: Juanita Gardine Elementary and Claude O. Markoe Elementary on St. Croix; Lockhart Elementary, Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School, and Joseph Gomez Elementary on St. Thomas.

The principals of these schools have designated anti-bullying coordinators, who were specially trained according to the Olweus model. Their sub-committees are charged with analyzing their school’s social environment, determining whether bullying is a problem and making recommendations to the principal about potential solutions.

“We are taking steps to counter bullying on the playgrounds, in classrooms, and online,” the first lady said.

The Territory’s anti-bullying initiative is part of a greater effort to reduce the drop-out rate in the Virgin Islands by improving the social atmosphere in public schools via school-based interventions and by providing platforms for greater communication, mentorship and other guidance, including empowering school officials with best practices to cope with these unique challenges.

Studies show that when an adult appropriately intervenes, more than half the time it puts an end to bullying in a matter of seconds.

“Children should never fear going to school, or have to study under a climate of intimidation. We know that good nutrition is necessary for good learning, so is being in a safe environment,” she said.

Nearly one in five students experiences bullying in some way, according to the Olweus model.

The O'Malley's letter points out that every day in the United States, some 160,000 students miss school because they are afraid they will be bullied if they go to class. Most of the time when kids are bullied, no one steps in to help them. 

“This is a serious, wide-spread issue that has already resulted in the tragic suicides of too many children throughout the country,” the letter reads.

Earlier this year, President and Mrs. Obama hosted the first-ever White House Conference on Bullying Prevention, raising awareness on the local and national preventative efforts needed at the school and community-based levels to combat bullying throughout the Nation.