Ebenezer pro-team class creates music video about bullying

They didn't avoid eye contact or dread talking to an adult, though a handful of the middle schoolers were taller than me, and instead sat patiently, excitedly, moving to the front of the class to be interviewed.

The Ebenezer Middle School pro-team class of mostly eighth- and some seventh-graders made a music video about bullying and posted it on YouTube as a way to teach others who may watch it and practice career and life skills themselves.

"I like doing songs, and it helps build these relationships, and it's relevant," said Melissa Pollard, the teacher at the rural Dalzell school who led the charge for her class to perform and produce "Stop the Bullying."

Pollard wrote the lyrics to the song she then performed with her students chiming in, taking a sample from "Crooked Smile" by rapper J. Cole and the inspiration for the verses from 21 Savage's "a lot," a rap song roughly about addressing life's hardships and coming out better on the other side.

"The concept of bullying needs to be addressed, especially in middle school. It's everywhere," she said.

Students said they don't see bullying on campus at Ebenezer but that they have seen it before. Especially online.

Pollard has had her class create a music video before with other topics as a way to meet her students where they are. There's no getting around students having phones in schools. Pollard wants to use their situation for the best outcome.

"We're pretty focused here on being college and career ready with our students, and especially with all the STEM here, I try to incorporate technology as much as possible," she said.

How many lives were lost? / A lot. / How many paid the cost? / A lot.

Over social media posts, offensive comments people pass off as jokes.

Pollard said she doesn't mind stepping out of a comfort zone to help her students become successful adults. She has always loved music, which helped.

She grew up listening to educational videos like "Schoolhouse Rock," which helped her come up with the idea to use self-made lyrics and a video format to help the message stick.

Sa'Nya Brisbone, an eighth-grader in the class, said they learned through the process to have empathy and kindness toward each other and that they have control over how they act and how they treat others.

"The whole class kind of vibes together when we record," said Desia Hall, another eighth-grader.

Don't think the only way to bully has to be vicious

Excluding from a group / spreading rumors / making threats

The video shows groups of the class in the media center, in a computer lab, around school performing the lyrics together. The end of the video gives tips on how to reach out if you're being bullied or contemplating suicide.

The process, while a heavy subject, was not all somber.

When asked who made the most bloopers, the whole class, teacher and all, said, without pause, "Jonathan [Davis]." He did not argue.

In a time in life when bullying can be so prevalent and so harmful, Pollard's class broke the stereotype of middle school chalking it up to insecurity and infighting.

The end of the video cuts to instrumental as a montage runs on the screen. The students, different genders and different races, are playing basketball in the gym, others doing homework together, working on a school project, playing, laughing, dancing.

Show an act of kindness / that's the best way to act

Let's make a change / treat others the way we want to be treated

They're dressed for prom, and they're playing Legos with a student in a wheelchair. They're being kids, but they're being nice, friendly, fun.

It doesn't seem like "regular" middle school. It seems like the kind of life they call for in the song.

See the video on YouTube.