School project works to end the use of the word "retard"

Decorah High School Community Club/Student Council members (First row, left to right): Rachel Haindfield, Kaitlin Yahr, Liv Ulring, Claire Breitenstein, David Pellet, Gavyn Samuelson and Tim Devore. (Second row, left to right): Molly McDonough, Nicole Poirier, Jackie Hoyme, Marlon Henriquez, Madison Johansen, Erica Bjelland, Shelby Varney, Rand-Kate Canoy and Ashley Peterson. (Third row, left to right): Hannah Kuehner, Abby Meirick, Liz Hovden, Katrina Shindelar, Lindsey Bohr, John Werner, Emma Breitenstein, Hannah Hougen, Dailen Folkedahl and Anna Hovden. (Fourth row, left to right): Pearl Faldet and Gabriel Eide.

Decorah High School's Community Club and Student Council afre campaigning to raise awareness of the hurtful consequences of the use of the words "retard" and "retarded."

The students are sharing the message: "We're asking every person - young and old - to help eliminate the demeaning use of the R-word – a common taunt used to make fun of others.  Often unwittingly, the word is used to denote behavior that is clumsy, hapless, and even hopeless.  But whether intentional or not, the word conjures up a painful stereotype of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  It hurts. Even if you don't mean it that way." 

Community Club and Student Council members spoke to their peers at Decorah High School Monday morning and paired with Decorah Middle School Student Council members during their Prime Time to communicate the same message.  All students grades 5-12 were offered the opportunity to take this pledge: "I pledge and support the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities."

"I'm so impressed with the energy and passion the students displayed as they planned this event," said Community Club advisor Liz Fox.  "I have no doubt that students have a keener awareness of and sensitivity to the use of the r-word.  Pairing up with leaders from the middle school made delivering the message even more valuable.  The students at the middle school have been discussing the pain that words can cause, so this service project fit right in."