When Hornsby Middle School dedicated a week to focus on Kindness- with events and a theme each day- two young ladies seized the opportunity to make a difference. Months earlier, seventh graders Briar and Anne heard Lauren Potter (the “Glee” actress who portrays a spunky cheerleader) speak in support of “Spread the Word to End the Word.”
They carried her message to the students at HMS, saying “We want to help Lauren Potter Spread the Word and get all people, but especially middle school students to STOP using the “R” word. We want to Challenge you to STOP using this hurtful word!” They shared that “even though she is a famous actress, she still gets called ‘retard.”
In their flyer they distributed to educate classmates, they included what they learned from Ms. Potter, such as “Different is Different, and Different isn’t Bad” and challenged them:
“Why shouldn’t you use the “R” word?
It’s not original.
There are so many other words that you could use,
just look in a thesaurus.
It’s hurtful not only to people with disabilities but to others as well.
Any way you use it, comes out wrong to other people around you.”
The ladies also had a clear ‘call to action’ for their fellow students:
“YOU CAN HELP! Stop using the “R” today and FOREVER!!!!
When your friends use it, tell them why they should stop!”
Better yet, they gave specific ideas:
“Go out of your way to include people with disabilities,
or who may be bullied for whatever reason,
ask them to sit with you at lunch,
ask them to join a game of basketball,
ask them to join a club you are in,
be creative, be a friend!”
Anne and Briar heard the message and had the courage to carry it forward to their middle school classmates. Thank you ladies, for demonstrating how to be creative and be a friend! Way to Grow Love!
the grow love project 