February 3, 2010
No Name-Calling Week Gives Students A Chance to Walk In Another’s Shoes
No Name-Calling Week (which took place in schools across the country last week) was introduced at Huntington Middle School with creative activities to remind students to respect and get a long with one another despite their differences. Thanks in large part to school counselor Jenny Hattaway’s acknowledgment of the rise in bullying during middle school, teachers and students embraced the intention of the “outside the box” themed days.
Seventh-grader Paige Brudnicki summed up her No Name-Calling Week experience with
thoughtful optimism.
“At school and for the rest of our life, we are in this world together. Getting along and being nice to others makes a difference.”
For more on Huntington’s effectual, “walk a mile in my shoes” Monday, “appreciate our differences” Tuesday, and a day in which students and teachers wear their shirts backwards to signify ‘having one anothers back,’ visit here.
Elizabeth Free is the communications manager at GLSEN--the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. Elizabeth joined GLSEN in 2009 to make schools safer for all students and says one of the best parts of her job is working with GLSEN's Student Ambassadors. She is originally from Texas and has a B.A. in Public Relations and Advertising from the University of Houston.
