Schools
Pink Shirt Day at Bryant Middle School Spreads Anti-Bullying Message
Students promote the importance of standing up against bullies during a week of activities at the school.
In today's world of smartphones and social media, it is easier for bullies to make life miserable for plenty of students.
School bullying statistics in the United States show that about one in four kids in the country are bullied on a regular basis.
On Wednesday, a sea of pink flooded the hallways at Bryant Middle School in Dearborn as the school's 802 students proudly wore T-shirts promoting messages against bullying.
"We want students to know that bullying is not OK," Madina Chaaban, an eighth grade leadership student said. "Some people don't think bullying is a big deal, but in some cases it can lead to death, and no one deserves to be treated like that."
As part of a week of activities, the leadership class held assemblies on bullying and taught younger classmates how to recite the school's anti-bullying pledge.
"Our message is that students should stick up for someone who is bullied. Be an upstander, not a bystander," Chaaban said.
Wednesday morning teachers and students stood in solidarity by forming a pink heart on the front lawn at Bryant to show the world bullying of any kind would not be tolerated.
Assistant Principal Kelly Dear said it's inspiring to see students' commitment to helping others.
Nicole Mark, a social worker at Bryant said this is the fifth year that the school has participated in National Anti-Bullying Day activities. The original event was organized by David Shepherd and Travis Price of Berwick, Nova Scotia, who in 2007 bought and distributed 50 pink shirts after a male freshman was bullied for wearing a pink shirt during the first day of school.
Mark said students design their own shirts every year, and have taken the movement globally by asking friends and relatives to send them a picture of himself or herself wearing the shirt anywhere in the world. The school has received photos from Rome, Spain, Canada, Switzerland and parts of the United States.
A world map prominently shows students where their shirts have been worn.
"The kids love to see where the T-shirts travel," Mark said. "It's a neat project with a positive message everyone can relate to."
To participate in Bryant's pink shirt program, snap a photo of yourself wearing a pink shirt and email it to bryantpinkshirt@yahoo.com.
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