NASW-SC Statement about the Incident at Spring Valley High School and the
1,000 Year Flood
SPRING VALLEY INCIDENT
On Monday, October 26th, 2015, a video surfaced of a violent incident in a classroom at Spring Valley
High School in Columbia, SC. Recorded by a student, the clip showed a teenage girl, African American,
who had been asked to leave the classroom and refused to do so. Reportedly, the teacher called in the
principal. Then a School Resource Officer, Ben Fields, was summoned to the room. He forcibly removed
the girl from her desk, put her in a headlock, and tossed her to the floor. Fields is a powerlifter who used
excessive force and could have seriously injured the girl (she did sustain injuries during the attack). The
girl was arrested for “disturbing the school” and later released to her parents. Another student who
spoke in defense of the girl was also arrested.
Like many who viewed the video, NASW-SC felt outrage at the violence shown. While we received
demands for an immediate statement condemning the actions recorded and insisting that we call for
the deputy’s termination, we decided to wait until more information came to light. Since the incident:
 Sheriff Lott initiated an investigation by the FBI and Justice Department
 The girl’s attorney disclosed that she is an orphan who recently lost her mother and was placed
in foster care. Other details about the victim have not been made public as she is a minor.
 On October 28th, Sheriff Lott announced the termination of Deputy Fields. The FBI and Justice
Department investigation continues and may result in criminal charges.
What is not known is the motivation for Dep. Fields’s actions. Some assume it is racially based, that the
victim was targeted because she is African-American. This makes the incident even more troubling, as it
falls on the heels of a horrendous hate crime last June in Charleston: the massacre at Emanuel AME
Church. Racial tension in SC has been palpable in recent months. The removal of the Confederate flag,
while symbolic, failed to address the real issues of discrimination and social injustice that are a part of
this state’s heritage.
Also troubling is that this girl was roughly handled by an adult male far larger and heavier than she. The
message that some students and viewers of the video may have taken away is that it is acceptable to be
aggressive with females who don’t obey. Given our high ranking in SC on domestic violence (# 1 or 2),
this adds an additional cause for concern.
1,000 YEAR FLOOD
In addition, South Carolina is still recovering from a devastating flood which happened only three weeks
ago. People lost homes and livelihoods. Nineteen people lost their lives. Some 60,000 victims are still
recovering from the disaster.
Amidst stories of heroic rescues by police, firefighters, friends, and neighbors, we hear other tales of
poor communities receiving inadequate help, of rural predominantly African American areas cut off
from services because of missing roads. While FEMA has sent over one thousand workers into our state,
caps to FEMA funding leave many without the ability to rebuild their lives. Those who have the
resources will find new homes or rebuild. Those who don’t will be dealing with the after effects of the
flood for many years to come.
The flood left our state, its systems, and its infrastructure stressed and exhausted. Law enforcement,
service providers, and volunteers worked around-the-clock for many days and continue to put in long
hours. Frustrations about roads, bridges, sluggish repairs, etc, affect nearly everyone. Being front-andcenter stage in the national media, yet again, contributes to our frustration.
WHY IT MATTERS
That being said, it is important that the Spring Valley video gets close attention. For social workers, we
must explore the incident from a micro and macro perspective. We wonder what exactly happened in
the classroom prior to the violence. Were other steps considered before law enforcement was called in?
Was the school social worker asked to intervene or at least consulted with before the matter got
volatile? Are School Resource Officers trained in de-escalation techniques? Is Deputy Fields’s behavior a
pattern and if so, how has it been allowed to continue? These will be questions posed to the school
board and superintendent
As a community, what should our response be? Our chapter has received calls from people out-of-state
wanting to come here to protest the incident. A peaceful protest might help raise awareness, and might
be a vent for our frustration. But an un-peaceful protest would serve only to traumatize an already
stressed state yet again. This is not something we need right now. And history tells us that “outsiders”
input may achieve the opposite of what they seek, no matter how well intended. SC leaders may
become focused on “outside interference” rather than addressing this issue responsibly; such fodder
might have negative political consequences.
While we examine this incident and its root causes, we must also examine ourselves as a community.
How many other such incidents may have occurred but went unreported? How can we prohibit this kind
of abuse from a law enforcement officer? How do we ensure the safety of our children? What public and
school policies need to be put into place or revised to both protect students and strengthen the learning
environment?
Similarly, how can our community help flood victims needing care? How can we NOT address the
disparity between what is offered wealthier communities and those with fewer resources? If race plays
a factor in these social injustices, we must address it head-on. It will lead to uncomfortable
conversations. It will make each of us turn the mirror on ourselves so that we are part of the solution
rather than part of the problem.
Social workers can play a key role in the healing process, but first we must study the wounds,
understand their source, and do whatever it takes so that recovery can begin.