by Dennis Harter
This week, our middle school had a very special student-driven assembly focusing on the topic of how language can and has been used hurtfully, damaging the community that we want at our school. The assembly was led by students from our gender equality club, Because We Are Equal, and our Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). These students spoke about how words used casually or out of context, like “rape” and “slut,” harm our community and do not respect the real meaning and hurtful nature of those terms. They shared that our community had no place for phrases like “that’s so gay,” to be used derogatorily. Students spoke about how words do hurt both mentally and physically, as verbal abuse can destroy self-esteem to the point of self-harm.
These were powerful statements made by students who took action against what they saw and heard including inappropriate, casual physical contact amongst their peers. These students led and advocated for the community that they (we) wanted – one in which we didn’t use hurtful language casually. Our community could be better than that, if we tried. Obviously these topics are heavy, complex, and sensitive. Our students handled this with amazing maturity, responsibility and appropriateness befitting of our middle school audience.
To help deliver their message, musical pieces were performed by the Choir, Orchestra and drama teacher, Mr. Sharp. Performances included:
- “Say Something”– encouraging standing up for what’s right
- “Unpretty”and“Hey Jude” – empowering everyone and reminding us that everyone deserves to feel cared for
- “Life on Mars”– celebrating our differences rather than victimizing or bullying it
Through it all, the students shared the metaphor of the mud and the lotus. This could be time for our community to bloom into the caring, diversity-appreciating community we value – a community free of discrimination (gender, ethnicity, identity) and more importantly, understanding and celebratory of diversity as a strength. The students led the assembly in an incredibly mature and honest way. They did so with care and passion in their hearts. In my 24 years as an educator, it was one of the most inspirational and understanding student settings that I’ve ever been a part of. I was brought to tears by the compassion demonstrated by our students (and I had to speak at the end!).
When we look to the future, we hope that our students become leaders who contribute to making the world a better place for everyone. We hope that they learn empathy and kindness and compassion. We hope that they feel cared for, accepted, and able to be themselves. This week, we saw these very things demonstrated by our kids and happening in our community. Led by our own students, we became closer as a school and committed to a more appreciative and aware community. As a principal, I was incredibly proud of all of our students: the presenters, the performers, and the audience.
In my closing remarks, I echoed the students’ message about actively trying to be the empathetic and celebratory community we want to be. As Jane Goodall said,
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
We are very proud of our ISB middle school students for the impact they continue to have and the positive difference they continue to make.
