HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) – The Horry County School unveiled an upgraded mobile app with a new “Bully Report” tab for students.
The upgrade to the app came about as a result of a suggestion from a board member who saw a similar program similar in Berkeley County.
The app is a way for students to help their friends or classmates by reporting incidents of bullying without any fear of repercussions.
“Previously we included reporting bullying incidents with a crime tip line. The bully report is its own form. You’re completed report will go to your school’s SRO so it’s important to make sure you’re making an accurate report,” from a video introducing the feature.
For school leaders like Jeffrey Nuzum, the app is a step in the right direction. Nuzum heads the Anti-Bullying Club at St. James Middle School and says the use of technology will make reporting incidents easier for students.
“The mobile app is just going to be another device that students can use now and they don’t have to worry about so called being found out that they told on somebody and these kids are so good with the digital technology, this is how they communicate anyway, Nuzum said.
If students use the app to report bullying, there’s a place to list your name and email but it’s not required.
“Well they should feel comfortable because they don’t have to worry about anyone if there is a problem, they can fix it without anyone else knowing,” Anti-bullying Club President Olivia Boone said.
Some other lines included on the form are: the school the incident took place, who is being bullied, who is doing the bullying, the date and time of the incident and details about what took place.
Nuzum says he doesn’t want the county to stop with its anti-bullying campaign.
“Just more support to know that we’re not doing it alone. If we can all as districts just have a set of guidelines, set of rules, which we do, we have Horry County anti-bullying policies but it would be great if we had anti-bullying conferences here in Horry County.”
