SHERBURNE – Fourth graders at Sherburne-Earlville identified a problem in their school this year, and the active students refuse to take the issue lying down. On Monday night, a group addressed the school board about the issue of bullying.

A group of fourth grade students organized earlier in the school year around the slogan “S-E stops bullying together.” The 18 students in Mrs. Johnson’s class identified bullying as an issue and are taking steps to prevent it. According to the parent of one student in the class, the idea for the group came after one of the students in the class was the victim of bullying on the playground. The class began discussing the problem and how they could help each other.

“My class of 18 fourth graders started talking earlier this year about their experiences in school and those of their friends and siblings. It took all of these conversations and observations to realize that bullying is all too common and maybe we should do something,” Johnson said.

Students conducted a survey, asking second through fourth grade students if they had ever been bullied or seen other students being bullied at school. The results showed that 77 percent of second graders, 80 percent of third graders and 81 percent of fourth graders reported being bullied, while 67 percent of second graders, 77 percent of third graders and 83 percent of fourth graders reported witnessing bullying. “Bullying should stop in every school. People are getting hurt,” said fourth grader Sal Magro.