March 6, 2015 at 4:32 p.m.
RHS students pledge to 'End the Word'
RHS students pledge to 'End the Word'
Some of those words have been successfully eradicated from everyday life. Some, it seems, will never go away.
Joining the fight against inequality and prejudice, members of the Rhinelander High School Project Unity Club spent last week encouraging their classmates to pledge to eradicate one such word - retard.
"Nationally, the beginning of March and the first Wednesday of March has been typically 'Spread the Word to End the Word,' and the word is retarded or retard," said Shelley Lehman, club advisor. "We're trying to stop that word because it is offensive to many people, and people use it maybe not always intending to hurt people or put people down, but it is, when used, hurtful to people with disabilities and the people that love them."
Activities took place all week, but the main event was on Wednesday.
The day started with a rally. Club members encouraged their classmates to sign a pledge to never use the word, and to correct others they hear using it.
The pledge banner was also up during lunch.
"(Wednesday) was the day to take the pledge to stop using the word, but you can really take the pledge at any time. You can go online to r-word.org and pledge to stop using the word," Lehman said. "When you don't use the word, you're showing respect."
The amount of respect shown by RHS students during the week was truly heartwarming, Lehman said.
"It brings a tear to my eye just watching the student body respond. We weren't sure how kids were going to respond, but when asked to take the pledge against the R-word, just about everybody has," she said. "I'm very proud of our school. Kids are coming to sign up for Project Unify and the activities were formulating. It was a great response. Kids were just flooding to the poster to sign and take the pledge."
RHS Principal David Ditzler shared Lehman's sentiments.
"It's something I truly believe in and something I think is incredibly important and that's why we're taking time to talk about it," Ditzler said.
"It goes along with our message of dignity for all people. It's a perfect tie-in and I'm excited to see what it does for our student body."
As a principal and father, Ditzler said it's an incredible feeling to see young people join together to fight for respect and equality for all.
"It's brings us together as 800 people so we're more than just a school. We become, perhaps, a family," he said. "The basis of our culture is family and if school can operate a little bit more like family where we all respect each other, support each other, encourage each other, that's an exciting school to be a part of."
Sophomore Hannah Krstedt manned the sign-up banner during lunch. She said she was very pleased to see her fellow students take the pledge to stop using a word that hurts so many.
"It's feels great because then people will know how it feels to do something good and get rid of the R-word," she said. "It feels great for me."
Lehman said the Project Unity Club has many activities planned for the upcoming months, including a basketball game against the Northland Pines' club.
Marcus Nesemann may be reached at [email protected].
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