By Brent Schanding

Educators are reacting after a video depicting a violent attack against a student last week sparked outrage among Frankfort Independent Schools students and parents who say more needs to be done to curb bullying.

“This is something we work on every day,” said Lori Denton, a guidance counselor at Frankfort Independent’s Second Street School. “We strive to create a family atmosphere at this school that is paramount to maximum student achievement.”

Denton says it doesn’t matter if the bullying comes in physical, verbal or cyber form.

“Bullying is bullying at Second Street School, and we do everything we can to prevent it,” she said.

A video captured at Frankfort High last Wednesday showed a freshman who was brutally beaten by a group of his classmates on school grounds. It prompted several students — including a few at Second Street — to share publicly with The State Journal about their own experiences of being bullied and its pervasiveness in and out of classrooms.

At Second Street School, Denton says she’s unveiled a recent initiative to combat the problem. It’s called the “Bully Box.”

“Students may anonymously fill out a form if they’ve witnessed or been the victim of bullying and place it in the box,” she said. “Each day, I check the box and address any bullying that has happened.

The box is posted outside of her office and Denton says it’s worked well, so far.

“We’ve had several students who were afraid to speak up before, now do so,” Denton said. “It creates needed dialogue but also gives students the comfort of anonymity if they want that. It has worked well for both younger and older students.”

Denton says two guidance counselors are employed at the school and each have worked with small groups of students this year to talk about topical issues that can come into play when bullying is present. Parents were able to sign a child up for group that met regularly to talk about anxiety, divorce or making friends in proactive ways, she said.

“We also meet regularly with students who have aggressive tendencies or may identify as a victim,” Denton said. “These small groups worked very well, and it’s something we will continue to offer students.”

Each spring the school marks anti-bullying week. Educators also embed anti-bullying practices into the curriculum.

“That may mean students are writing open-response pieces on the harmful ramifications of bullying or how they have personally dealt with bullying in the past,” she said.

The school has offered an elective course for middle school girls that addresses relational aggression. Staff also keeps track of harassment and keeps close tabs of repeated incidents of bullying.

“We have an open-door policy for all students,” Denton added. “If we hear about it or see it, we will take appropriate actions immediately. Students come to SSS to learn in a safe and welcoming environment. That means something to us.”