Boy scout takes anti-bullying message to Irving Middle School

Norman Transcript - 10/27/2019

Oct. 27--Elementary school wasn't always easy for Gabe McIntyre.

Now an eighth grade student at Irving Middle School, McIntyre remembers being bullied by schoolmates in fourth and fifth grade. He was making the transition out of special education classes, and it was tough to meet new friends.

"It was a difficult transition because he is diagnosed with the autism sensory disorder and ADHD," said McIntyre's mother, Barbara Caudell. "So those things just make it difficult for him to socialize with peers and kids his age."

Recently, 15-year-old McIntyre decided to make things easier for other students who might be facing that same problem. McIntyre wore his Boy Scouts uniform to Irving all day Oct. 16 , hoping to send a message straight from the scouts handbook during National Bullying Prevention Month: "a scout is kind."

"I want to stop bullying and make kids feel safer around here, and to also be a good example to other scouts," McIntyre said.

McIntyre has been in Boy Scouts for eight years now -- it's been a growing and challenging experience for him, Caudell said. Earning badges isn't always easy for McIntyre, but he and Caudell said his troop masters at Norman's Troop 217 adapt challenges to his abilities.

While he's working toward Eagle Scout and steadily gathering his badges, McIntyre said the best part of scouts is "helping others."

"That's literally 95% of the reason why I joined scouts in the first place," McIntyre said. "I just want there to be more good people in this world -- this world has enough bullies. This world needs less bullies and more friends."

Bullying doesn't seem to have been an issue for McIntyre so far in middle school -- while it's sometimes hard for him to pick up on other kids' tones or intentions, it seems like Irving has been good to him, Caudell said. It's clear seeing him at school that he's made an impact on teachers and administrators, who he hugs as they leave for the day. Gabe is a hugger, his mom explains.

"We work hard to make sure Irving is a safe and inclusive place for all our students. To have a great kid like Gabe stand up and say 'I want to be part of that culture and I want to make a difference' is just awesome," Irving principal Jonathan Atchley said in a statement. "I think it's fantastic that he found a way to combine those Boy Scout values with the values we have here at Irving and we're just really proud of him."

At Irving, McIntyre has made friends and classmates he looks forward to seeing every day. His favorite subject is science, and he hopes to one day pursue paleontology and charity work, he said.

McIntyre said he's mostly "gotten over" what happened in elementary school with the help of his therapist. He's not sure if he'll wear his scout uniform to school again, but McIntyre and Caudell said they think he at least spread his message.

"Most kids at school do not know he's a scout -- unless they're in scouting themselves, they probably would not know," Caudell said. "He just explained to them throughout the day...that 'well, I'm wearing because I want everyone to know I'm a scout, and in case anyone needs a friend or a lunch buddy, a kind word or anything."

Emma Keith366-3537Follow me @emma_ckeithekeith@normantranscript.com

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