No Name-Calling Week

The last full week in January is always designated as No Name-Calling Week, an nationwide effort started by GLSEN (http://www.nonamecallingweek.org/cgi-bin/iowa/home.html) to stop the hurtful language frequently directed as sexual minority youth. However, principal associations have paired with GLSEN to make this a K-12 initiative. At our school we have done bulletin boards, taught lessons, posted ideas for teachers to use in classes, made morning announcements over PA, and send home information to parents. Words can hurt! As counselors we need to teach students what to do if someone calls them a name, what to do if they hear someone else call someone a name, and why it is wrong to call names. If name-calling is frequent, intentional, or cruel it is considered bullying and should be treated with the same reporting and response procedures mandated for schools regarding physical bullying.