Hundreds of Howe Sound and Don Ross Secondary students took a stand against bullying this week by joining an international call for support by wearing purple on Oct. 20 and by soliciting signatures for an anti-bullying petition.
Don Ross Secondary School student Hannah Jarvis initiated the schools version of the international anti-bullying awareness project, Spirit Day, on Wednesday (Oct. 20) by broadcasting a school announcement requesting everyone wear purple to show their disdain for harassing and violent behaviour.
Don Ross has gotten a really bad rep and really bad press because of the recent fight but bullying happens at all schools and it needs to be addressed everywhere, said Jarvis, referring to last months high profile bullying incident that landed a student in hospital.
As the schools hallways filled with the colour on clothes, accessories, feet and posters, it became apparent students have had enough.
So many people just think bullyings a joke, but people are actually getting hurt, said Don Ross Grade 10 student Kate Trann. I dont know why people think its cool to bully people.
Spirit Day was organized to raise awareness over the tormenting of gay and lesbian youth in the wake of high profile suicides of a dozen young gay Americans, most notably Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers student who committed suicide following his roommates broadcast of his intimate encounter with another man.
Grade 8 student Harry Head was among those roaming the corridors in purple. He said he wanted to support the anti-bullying initiative because you come to school to have fun, not be teased and bullied.
His purple-clad friend Derlin Hoberg agreed.
I feel really bad for them [kids being hurt and teased], he said. You should go to school in the morning because youre excited to see people.
The show of support is going beyond clothing with Grade 10 student Keira Evanss petition imploring the Sea to Sky School District to take a more aggressive stance against bullying in schools.
The petition asked that 1) a more effective system be devised to deal with bullying, 2) the changes be written as school policy, and 3) the policy be implemented by school administrators and staff, in order to protect the students of Squamish from harassment.
The online version of the petition currently has 97 signatures, and more names are being collected within the school, said Jarvis.
I was one of the first people to sign it, but now theres tons of signatures on it, said Jarvis. Its really taking off.
Evans was unavailable for comment.
Don Ross vice principal Robyn Ross was also spotted wearing an entirely purple outfit on Wednesday, including jacket, shirt, sweater, necklace and earrings.
She said she was proud so many students were taking Spirit Day seriously, however she declined to comment on the student petition.
The school district will be in a position to respond to a parent-generated petition posted on the Facebook page Bully Free Howe Sound during the Nov. 10 board meeting. That petition requests the school district code of conduct policy be changed to address criminal behaviour.
Knowledge of any threatening or physical and sexual assault involving students 12 years and older on or off school property shall be immediately turned over to the police for investigation under the Criminal Code, it states.
With files from Meagan Robertson
