LCSD students, faculty and staff observe No Name-Calling Week by saying ‘Hey’

Published 8:15 am Wednesday, January 30, 2019

As their participation in the national observance of No Name-Calling Week, Lauderdale County Public School students, faculty and staff were encouraged to say “Hey” to people they did not know as an act of kindness against name-calling and bullying. 

GLSEN’s (formerly the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) No Name-Calling Week is a week-long observance organized by K-12 educators and students to end name-calling and bullying in schools. Founded in 2004 with Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, and evaluated by GLSEN research, No Name-Calling Week was inspired by the James Howe novel “The Misfits,” which is about students who, after experiencing name-calling, run for student council on a No Name-Calling platform.

According to the GLSEN website, the week is rooted in the idea of #KindnessInAction — not merely recognizing the importance of kindness, but actively adding kindness into our every action. See below ways to participate and put #KindnessInAction, including lesson plans for elementary, middle, and high school.

This was Lauderdale County School District’s first year to participate in the anti-bullying initiative. Throughout the week, ”Say Something” assemblies were held at each of the district’s middle and high schools.

“The ‘Say Something’ initiative is sponsored by a group with that same name out of Jackson,” Williams said. “The assemblies encouraged all who attended to realize their self-worth and the importance of supporting others.”

On the district premiere “Hey Day,” students not only were encouraged to speak to people they did not know, but also to sign a Pledge to Be Kind banner. The banners were provided to all LCSD schools by Junior Auxiliary of Meridian.