As the cowboy stepped up to the microphone, the auditorium of a few hundred squirming fourth- and fifth-graders came to a hush.

Calvin Sims wore a wide-brimmed hat and spurs that clanged when he walked. He commanded attention, and he had a serious topic to discuss: Bullies.

And while bullying at Centennial Arts Academy in Gainesville, where Sims was speaking for the second year in a row, is not a big issue, Sims said it is a topic that should be addressed with elementary-aged kids simply because a lot of innocent horseplay at this age can turn into bullying.

"Children are honest, and a lot of bullying starts with good-natured playing, teasing. It's not malicious at all," he said prior to the assembly at the school. "But children, because they are immature and they lack some of the restraints that adults have, sometimes they take it too far."

Sims took students through some of the ways bullying can start, such as rough playing or too much tickling, and then brought up groups of kids to give examples of ways to tell bullies to stop.

Sims also addressed the causes behind bullying. Often, he said, not only does bullying cause low self-esteem in the person who is on the receiving end, but it also is caused by a bully with low self-esteem.

"Bullying is a symptom of a greater problem, where the child is craving for attention, acceptance. Sometimes bullying is an indication that there are some problems at home, maybe even because of neglect," he said. "But the bottom line is that it creates and is caused by low self-esteem. It causes the victim to have low self-esteem, but usually it's caused by the bully, because there are situations in his life that cause him to have low self-esteem.

"So, it is a self-perpetuating system."

Sims' presentation was presented by Centennial's Parent-Teacher Organization; last year he came to tell stories to the students. Officials from Hall County schools agreed that bullying isn't a widespread problem, and they allow each school to deal with it as they see fit.

Often, guidance counselors or special speakers will address classrooms. Other times there will be special presentations to larger groups. This year also marks the first year cyber bullying is specifically addressed in the system's code of conduct.

Centennial Assistant Principal Leslie Frierson said Sims had several different meetings with students, teachers and parents last Tuesday.

"I think it's always important now that we need to educate all the students on this issue," Frierson said. "We do encounter, every once in a while, different levels of bullying, and we want to make all the children realize what they can do to protect themselves and their friends."