You Are...Hallway

The Story behind the Hallway

What is Bullying?  Why it Matters.

       Bullying means to use strength or influence over someone to physically or with words.  Bullying physically means pushing, shoving, or punching the victim in violent ways.  Bullying with words is to call people names and make fun of their differences.  Whichever form of bullying it is, it's not good.  3.2 million people are bullied each year.  Bullying is not something that only happens in movies.  IT'S REAL.  Think if you were bullied.  Would it feel good?

Jamie's Story

      Jamie Nabozny was bullied throughout middle and high school for being openly gay.  When Nabonzny went to his school principal about the bullying, she would say, "Boys will be boys."  This action did not stop the bullying.   During school the bullying started to go to an extreme.  The kids at Jamie's school would physically hurt him, and sometimes send him to the hospital.  Jamie's fear of being abused caused him to drop out of high school.  Soon after, he decided to take the situation into court.  When his case finally got accepted, Jamie had many witnesses including one of his middle school bullies.  Eventually, Jamie and his family won the case because of the 14th amendment: The "Equal Protection Clause does... require the state to treat each person with equal regard, as having equal worth, regardless of his or her status."  In Jamie's video documentary Bullied, he felt he was not safe or accepted at his school; We hope to make to feel safe and treated equally at our school which is the purpose of the You Are... Hallway.

What is the "You Are... Hallway"

      The "You Are... Hallway",  is a hallway where you can feel safe and secure.  The "You Are... Hallway" has a banner that says "You Are..."  There are also words on the banner that represent the actions you should do or the attitude you should have.  For example: Kind, proud, happy, generous, ect.  That is why we named this hallway the "You Are... Hallway."

How Can Ann Richards Get Involved?  

      Our target for the "You Are... Hallway" is everyone at the Ann Richards School.  We want everyone at Ann Richards to be in a bully free community.  One way you can get involved is to participate in our challenge.  Our challenge is for everyone at ARS to preform at least one act of kindness per day.  There was one school that tried this challenge and had a dramatic drop in bullying.  (We hope it works at our school too.)  We would also like to ask you a question: Have YOU done your act of kindness today?

Citations:

http://www.tolerance.org/kit/bullied-student-school-and-case-made-history 

    6thGradeSTARS