High School Launches Anti-Bullying 'We Don't Say' Program
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Some Twin Cities students are speaking up about bullying by staying silent.
Totino-Grace High School in Fridley launched a new campaign this week called "We Don't Say." It highlights seven words and phrases the students won't use because of their meanings and how the words affect others.
"People are kind of like starting to realize that with the definitions of the word, that they realize there is meaning behind it and there's bad things," Hayden Lacy said.
Members of the school's group "Empower" meet every other week to discuss ways to make the school a more open and safe environment.
"I know that I am one person that will change the school, and I'm having an impact on every single student," Alex Gannaway said.
Empower had just 10 students when it started five years ago. It's now grown to some 40 students.
"I think kids are seeing what we're doing and they want to be involved and what to know what they can do to help as well," Abbey Holscher said.
Students in Empower picked the words and phrases that are often used without consideration around school and on social media. They decided they didn't want to hear or see them anymore.
Using duct tape to cover their mouths, they created a powerful message showing words can hurt. The response, so far, has been positive.
"It's getting to be a bigger part of my life and I want people to know that something needs to happen, some change needs to happen because it's getting kind of out of hand," Jake Sitarz said.
Student Amy Gasperlin says the goal of the campaign is not to get rid of the words completely.
"[It's] to work on our negative connotation of the word," Amy Gasperlin explained.
The message is spreading as others learn even small words have a big impact. And students say they're seeing the impact with fewer bullying incidents in their hallways and classrooms.
Others are encouraged to share the "we don't say" message by using the hashtag "TGDoesnt" on Twitter.
