Shore Students Participate in 'Day of Silence'

On April 15, many students in grades six to nine at Beverly's Shore Country Day School chose to join in the 'Day of Silence,' a student-led national event that brings attention to anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) name-calling, bullying, and harassment in schools. All over the country, students from middle school to college age take a vow of silence in an effort to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior by illustrating the silencing effect of bullying and harassment on LGBT students and those perceived to be LGBT.

Shore's participation was organized with the help of English instructor Walter Morris, who said, "This is a quiet but potentially powerful program that immediately raises awareness by asking students to remain silent for all or part of the school day – an eye-opening challenge for our sixth through ninth graders."

Morris had students meet in his classroom at the start of the school day to sign a pledge of participation, to don a sticker signaling their silence, and to share a personal reason for joining the Day of Silence. Dozens of students pledged to remain silent – some for the entire school day.

Wrote one student, "I feel it's important to understand and have empathy for those who don't have a voice." Shared another: "My neighbors are gay; I see them judged by others every day." The stickers demonstrating the students' participation were noticeable throughout the school, and many of the silent were seen awkwardly negotiating recess or lunch room exchanges through pantomime.

Going about their regular school day without speaking is a big part of the challenge, said Morris. "Being literally silenced made the impact of anti-LGBT behavior immediately clear. I worked with faculty to ensure that their planned classroom activities wouldn't be adversely affected by students' vow of silence." Some teachers crafted lessons that relied on interactive whiteboards, laptops, or tablets in order to allow non-speaking students to participate in class fully.

The national Day of Silence was created by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

The GLSEN 2013 National School Climate Survey found that nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students report verbal, sexual, or physical harassment at school and more than 30% report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety. More than 10,000 students around the country participate in the Day of Silence each year.

"I'm hopeful that the Day of Silence experience will help us learn how to support not only LGBT kids and their families, but all of our students in this ever-changing world," said Morris.