HC students attend Anti-Bullying event at Central Office

On Thursday, Aug. 27, the Fayette County School Board held a summit on their anti-bullying policy for the 2015-16 school year. Focusing on preventing bullying for students of all race, gender, and sexual orientation, the event highlighted the story of Matthew Shepard, a  Wyoming student who was attacked and killed in 1998 purely based on his sexual orientation. Guest speakers from across the nation, including Shepard’s parents, were in attendance to participate in the presentation, and to answer questions from the 450 students in attendance.

“Matthew was attacked and killed for no reason other than who he was,” Kerry Harvey, Chief Attorney for the Eastern District U.S. Attorney’s Office, said. “[The Shepards] were able to take that tragedy and devote tireless efforts… to find good from that horrible loss.”

Judy and Dennis Shepard, Matthew’s parents, were the keynote speakers of the event. Judy and Dennis, created the Matthew Shepard foundation to support American teens who don’t feel ‘normal’ at school, work, or home.

“What is normal?” Judy Shepard asked the crowd of High School Students.

Judy Shepard spoke out against bullying in her address to students in attendance. She took a careful approach to solving the bullying epidemic. She has been an outspoken advocate for anti-bullying policy and bullied children across the United States. She does not place blame, but instead views bullying as a societal issue.

“Bullies have issues, or they wouldn’t be bullies,” Judy said, “When they’re unchecked or unaddressed, or an attempt is not made to find out why they act that way, things don’t change… they escalate.

In contrast to his wife, Dennis Shepard took a more direct approach to dealing with bullies in schools.  He called out not only the bullies, but the bystanders who witnessed harassment but never reported it.

“To me, if you’re a bully, you’re a coward,” he said. “And if you don’t try to stop it or report it, you’re part of the problem. It’s up to you to stop this. You are the solution.”

FCPS Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk spoke on stage at the event. “Our school campuses must be safe places where everyone is valued, respected, and accepted,” he said, “There is no room for discrimination, bullying, or hate in our district.”

Dennis expanded on Superintendent Caulk’s words.

“It is critical that a school district like this has the desire to be proactive, to protect the students, and give them a chance to succeed based on their abilities and their desires, and not be stunted in their growth, whether it is physical, mental, or emotional…” he said.

HC senior Anna Stamm is, the current president of the Gay-Straight Alliance at HC, and a Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network of the Bluegrass (GLSEN) board member. She is a supporter of FCPS’ current anti-bullying policies, but advocates for the creation of GSA groups throughout the state of Kentucky.

“Fayette County has a strong support system for LGBT rights,” she said. “The only thing for other districts to do is the same.”

The problem doesn’t end in Kentucky. Nationwide, over 80% of teenagers that identified as LGBT reported being bullied, but Stamm is hopeful.

“We aren’t like that,” she said. “We have a strong community here at HC.”

Stamm believes that thanks to HC’s GSA group, the school faculty, and the comprehensive policies that FCPS has put in place, the school does not have as big of a problem as many others.

The student code of conduct was recently updated to include rules against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Verbal or physical abuse, offensive language, and discrimination in any form are now unlawful towards all social groups, whether it be race, identity, religion, or age.

“I am so pleased that we continue to think of ways to protect kids and allow [them] to express their differences and still be respected,” Elizabeth Tronoski, an FCPS instructional specialist who contributed to the event’s planning committee, said.

Although he recognized great strides in the school district’s policy and effectiveness in dealing with bullying over the last few years, Caulk admitted that the system isn’t perfect yet.

“We can do better, and we must do better,” he said.

Despite everything that Fayette County is doing to combat bullying, the message of the morning remained clear.

“I didn’t speak out enough,” Lexington mayor Jim Gray said. “If you see something that isn’t right, I would encourage you to do what I didn’t do, and that is to speak up.”