No Name-Calling Week

Have any of your charges been a victim of name-calling?

Far too many children experience some form of bullying and name-calling. According to the National Association of School Psychologists, between 15 and 30 percent of all students are either bullies or victims of bullying. It begins in the elementary school and peaks during middle school years. That’s why it is imperative to begin to address the problem of bullying and name calling while children are still in elementary school. No Name-Calling Week during the week of January 24-28.

No Name-Calling Week is a week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities.

No Name-Calling Week was inspired by The Misfits a young adult novel by James Howe. The book tells the story of a group of friends who struggle to survive the seventh grade due to their experiences of being harassed because of their weight, height, intelligence, sexual orientation, and gender expression. Motivated by the inequities they see around them, the protagonists - “the Gang of Five” - create a political party during student council elections with a platform aimed at wiping out all forms of name-calling.

In the process, they win the support of the school’s principal who helps them establish a “No Name Day” at school. Motivated by this simple yet powerful idea, a coalition of over forty education, youth advocacy, and mental health organizations have partnered to organize an annual No Name-Calling Week in schools across the country. The project seeks to build awareness of, dialogue for and action against name-calling in schools.

Have your charges been a victim of name-calling?