Dubai: A novel social experiment conducted at a Dubai school has become the talk of the town after it helped establish how bullying can affect a child’s growth.
Reminiscent of the famed Solomon Island folklore where Pacific islanders are believed to have felled trees by badmouthing them, the experiment at GEMS Wellington Academy in Dubai Silicon Oasis entailed plants, which were provided by the Swedish retailer IKEA. The two plants were placed at the school reception for positive and negative reinforcements. While one was showered with compliments, the other was criticised and insulted. As students, parents and visitors engaged with the plants, the growth of the two plants was measured over seven months.
Zero tolerance
The result was startling: While the complimented plant continued to thrive, the bullied plant was listless and visibly struggled.
Thomas Nelson, principal of GEMS Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis, said, “As part of the drive to highlight the school’s zero tolerance to bullying, the pastoral team wanted to raise awareness of the different forms of bullying in an innovative and engaging way. We left the plants at the reception over seven months to see if one grew more than the other due to the effects of bullying. Curiosity attracted visitors to this experiment and, more students were discussing the effects that bullying can have on a person, understanding the different forms of bullying and reflecting on how to become more mindful when speaking to others. This has raised the profile of anti-bullying across the academy.”
Vinod Jayan, managing director of IKEA UAE, said, “The initiative helped children and their families understand the impact words can have. It was successful in driving awareness and reducing bullying amongst children. More schools in the UAE have approached us to conduct the experiment.”
