Elementary school students rap against bullying | Community Spirit

By John Carter - bio l email

KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC (WBTV) - A local school is taking a strong stand against bullying. Students at West Elementary School in Kings Mountain say they want to get out the message that bullying is wrong.

All 325 students, Pre-K through 4th graders, all the teachers and staff, all gathered in the hallways to perform the rap song: "We Don't Do Bullying At Our School."

Student Sarah Drennan says, "It's a rap where you, like you don't want to, where you don't bully."

The message of the song: Bullying isn't right...and shouldn't be tolerated.

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4th grader Mackena Deaton says "It teaches other people about how people bully and how to prevent it."

Music teacher Monica Martin and guidance counselor Cindy Kiser came up with the song.

"Well, all the kids, they listen to rap. And some of 'em can't, won't really sing in tune," said Martin. "And if they have to sing - they don't want to do it. But if they can rap it, that was much cooler."

"We tried to be very proactive, because we know nationwide bullying has been in the news lately," Kiser says. "What an impact and the consequences it can have on students and so I think by being proactive, maybe we're helping to prevent bullying."

One verse of the song goes:  "Listen up, hear what I'm puttin' down. Doesn't matter if you're black, white, red or brown. If you wanta be smart then you gotta know the rules. We don't do bullyin' at our school."

Students are taking the song's message to heart.

They say bullying isn't a problem at West, but they hope their message will be heard at schools that do have a problem.

"If you hear it, and you're like, you're like a bully...you might think, well those kids have the courage to go out and dance and in their school and sing the bully rap." said 3rd grader Silas Price. "So that might stop somebody from being a bully? Yes!"

Who knows? Maybe we'll see the West Elementary 'Bully Rap' on Billboards Top 100 some day!

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