When all else fails, be kind.
It’s a sentiment that’s easy enough to express but sometimes difficult to manifest, especially if we’ve had a bad day.
So, Canterbury High School teacher Michelle Dow—wanting to reinforce kindness early in her Grade 6-8 students—challenged them to create something to promote that sentiment.
In taking up Dow’s challenge and to coincide with the anti-bullying initiative National Pink Shirt Day yesterday, the students collaborated on a mural promoting kindness.
“In social studies,we‘re learning about the connections between stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination through scenario-based activities,” said Dow. “Students use these activities to analyze and share personal experiences connected to the concept of bullying. They recognized the importance of being kind to one another through acts of kindness and inclusion.”
The mural’s message, “Choose to be kind,” sits atop a patchwork of colourful designs created by the students.
“Each student chose a piece to colour, and I encouraged discussions around collaboration, inclusion, and diversity,” she said.
Pink Shirt Day began in 2007 when two Grade 12 students in Berwick, N.S. purchased pink shirts for themselves and other students to wear to show solidarity with a new student who had been bullied for wearing a pink shirt. When the two Grade 12 students went to distribute the shirts, they discovered that many of the other students were already wearing their own pink shirts.
“Everybody had a part in making the mural, which was fun,” said Grade 7 student Jaylynn Dickinson. “Pink Shirt Day helps us to recognize that bullying isn’t cool.”