It’s No Name-Calling Week (January 21-25, 2013)! What are you doing to participate in this important event?
The Message Is Respect
Thousands of schools across the country are participating in the annual No Name-Calling Week through educational activities designed to end name-calling and bullying of all kinds.
The impact of bullying is tragic, so No Name-Calling Week strives to focus on creating school environments where students learn to respect each other. This year's No Name-Calling Week is extra important, considering there have been several high-profile suicides by elementary and middle-school students in the past few years in which name-calling and bullying are believed to have played a role.
Carl’s Story
Sirdeaner Walker’s son, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover was only 11 years old when he committed suicide after being bullied by his fellow classmates at school. Carl played football and basketball, and he was a Boy Scout, but that didn’t stop the other kids from picking on him, calling him gay and making fun of the way he dressed. Even after Carl told his mom what was happening, and she phoned the school to let the administration know what was going on, no one seemed to want to do anything to stop the bullying and the constant teasing.
After a year of constant torment, Carl was just about at the end of his rope. After a gang at school threatened to kill him and he got in an argument with a girl in the hallway, a school mediator got involved and told Carl and the girl that they needed to eat lunch together for the rest of the week in order to work out their differences. But it was too little, too late, and now nothing can bring Carl back.
How To Help
All through No Name-Calling Week, try and be aware of the level of respect shown among the students in your school. Make sure to be kind and compassionate to everyone you meet on a day to day basis. Treat others the same way you’d want them to treat you. You can also ask the staff at your school about hosting an assembly and hanging up posters to promote respect and encourage kids to do something when they hear name-calling or bullying happening around them.
Have Your Say
Has bullying affected you or your friends? How have you stood up to bullying? Leave a comment and let us know.
