The Massachusetts Observer: No Name-Calling Week

I still get notification each year from the No Name-Calling Week Project that is sponsored by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Education Network. That is because I attempted to observe this in my school when I was still teaching.

It was almost impossible to generate interest in this on a school-wide basis. Among the reasons were administrators who were absolutely opposed to any suggestion that bullying occurred at the school, despite the fact that it did. It was better to appear to the public that such a situation did not exist at our school than to deal with the problem head on.

The vast majority of teachers did not want to address the issue; some because it would put them in opposition to administrators, and others because they could not spare the time from subject matter to deal with the issue.

Not stated outright, but undoubtedly an underlying reason, was the sponsor of the event. Anything to do with "gay" was to be avoided. This is despite the fact that No Name-Calling Week is not narrowly focused on issues of sexual identity, and the Project has a wide range of partners, sponsors, supporters, and allies.

In my English class we began by reading the book that inspired No Name-Calling Week. Here is the description from the No Name-Calling Week Project site:

THE HISTORY OF THE NO NAME-CALLING WEEK PROJECT

No Name-Calling Week was inspired by a young adult novel entitled "The Misfits" by popular author, James Howe. The book tells the story of four best friends trying to survive the seventh grade in the face of all too frequent taunts based on their weight, height, intelligence, and sexual orientation/gender expression.

Motivated by the inequities they see around them, the "Gang of Five" (as they are known) creates a new political party during student council elections and run on a platform aimed at wiping out name-calling of all kinds. The No-Name Party in the end, wins the support of the school's principal for their cause and their idea for a "No Name-Calling Day" at school. Motivated by this simple, yet powerful, idea, the No Name-Calling Week Coalition created by GLSEN and Simon & Schuster Children's publishing, consisting of over 40 national partner organizations, organized an actual No Name-Calling Week in schools across the nation. The project seeks to focus national attention on the problem of name-calling in schools, and to provide students and educators with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate name-calling in their communities.

A 2005 survey conducted on behalf of GLSEN by Harris Interactive titled From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America - A National Report on School Bullying:

The online survey, conducted between January 13 and January 31, 2005, reveals that bullying is common in America’s schools, and that some students are frequent targets for verbal and physical harassment:

Two-thirds (65%) of teens report that they have been verbally or physically harassed or assaulted during the past year because of their perceived or actual appearance, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, race/ethnicity, disability or religion.

The reason most commonly cited for being harassed frequently is a student’s appearance, as four in ten (39%) teens report that students are frequently harassed for the way they look or their body size.

The next most common reason for frequent harassment is sexual orientation. One-third (33%) of teens report that students are frequently harassed because they are or are perceived to be lesbian, gay or bisexual.

I will never forget one thing that happened in my classroom during the discussion of the "Misfits" book. One student who had heard anti-gay slurs coming from his peers just went along with them. They were not directed toward him, but just in general. He found the courage to tell the class that the man who adopted him is gay. Students were changed by this, with the realization that words can hurt, and they had no idea who they might be hurting.

Bullying in Southbridge Schools

In Southbridge, there have been numerous reports of bullying in our schools. While a simple observance of No Name-Calling Week would not totally solve the problems, I believe it could go a long way in easing these situations. Perhaps there is someone in our school system who will see this as a worthy project. Here is the link to materials.

On a Related Topic

The Massachusetts Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Youth, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, is pleased to be offering regional workshops for students in gay-straight alliances/diversity groups and for their advisors. Students and adults who are interested in supporting gender nonconforming students are also welcome.

At these free workshops, students and their advisors will be assisted in developing strategies for implementing the Board of Education Recommendations on the Support and Safety of LGBT Students, the Anti-Bullying Law, and the recently amended Student Anti-Discrimination Law. Best practices for addressing gender identity, sexual orientation, bullying, school climate, and coalition-building will be featured.

The workshops will be held from 8:30AM-1:00PM on the dates and at the locations listed below. Lunch will be provided.

DATES (Dec 12, 13, 18, 19) and REGIONAL LOCATIONS

Wed. 12/12 Fitchburg State University (Hammond Campus Center, 160 Pearl Street, Fitchburg)

Thurs. 12/13 Westfield State University (577 Western Ave., Westfield) NOTE: The session is in Scanlon Banquet Hall in Scanlon Hall

Tues. 12/18 Bridgewater State University (19 Park Avenue, Bridgewater) NOTE: The session is in the Rondileau Campus Center.

Wed. 12/19 - Northern Essex Community College (100 Elliott Street, Haverhill) NOTE: Follow the signs to the Technology Center and Tech Parking.

Pre-registration is required (using this form below). Space is limited, and registration for each workshop will close once that site is full. Registration is on a first come-first serve basis. Please register each ADULT separately, and list the approximate number of STUDENTS that will be coming with you. Students may also register separately, but are not required to do so.

If you have questions, contact Jeff Perrotti at