By Alison Glass
Anderson Independent-Mail
March 19, 2006

School guidance counselor Dan McCullough said he believes many students bully other children to be the center of attention.

"Most students find themselves bullying others (as a result) of trying to be accepted," said Mr. McCullough, who works at Starr-Iva Middle School.

Herbert Ervin, who mentors younger Anderson community members in a number of capacities, said groups resort to bullying in some cases to try to bring people into a gang.

Bullying in schools today is not limited to simple verbal nastiness between cliques, Mr. Ervin said.

"It has escalated," he said. "Now it is dangerous."

A proposal before South Carolina lawmakers would require each school district in the state to have a policy in effect to prohibit bullying, intimidation and harassment of students. The South Carolina House of Representatives passed the plan, which now is before the Senate education committee.

Student behavior policies in Anderson school districts currently prohibit a range of actions that might commonly be considered bullying.

"I feel we’re covering it and addressing it now," said Wayne Fowler, superintendent of Williamston-based Anderson School District 1.

But anything that stresses the need to prevent bullying, as the legislative proposal would do, is welcome, several educators said.

The Anderson School District 5 student code of conduct, for example, indicates that fighting, threats against others and bullying are forms of disorderly conduct for which students face consequences. The corresponding code in Iva-based Anderson School District 3 contains similar language.

School employees may — depending upon the exact circumstances of the bullying — issue a verbal warning to a student who harasses others, notify such a student’s parents or suspend the student from classes, several educators said. School officials also request the involvement of law enforcement at times or take other measures.

Mr. McCullough and Teresa Evans, a guidance counselor at Riverside Middle School in Pendleton, said they try to help students who are being bullied learn how to assertively tell the bully that the situation is hurtful and not appreciated.

"I’m amazed just how far that one statement will go," Ms. Evans said.

The two counselors said they often ask students who antagonize others to realize that bullying isn’t necessary and to think about what it does to others.

Ms. Evans said that when she feels it would be productive, she tries to bring a bully and that person’s target together to speak with them at the same time.

Mr. McCullough said it would be very helpful for school districts to establish set procedures — on a districtwide basis — for reporting bullying. Those types of procedures are a recommendation in the proposed law.

Bullying between children often happens when adults are not around to see it, said Carolyn Brown, Starr-Iva Middle principal. So, she said, it’s important for school officials to be open to students, parents and others who want to report instances of bullying.

"Bullying is painful," she said. "It’s very cruel, and it takes a very proactive school community to keep in control."

Alison Glass can be reached at (864) 260-1275 or by e-mail at glassag@IndependentMail.com.

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