Day of Silence Brings Awareness of the Need for Tolerance and Acceptance

Students at J.I. Case High School in Mount Pleasant have stepped up to stop the bullying of their lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgendered peers with the Day of Silence.

A national movement since 1996, Case students marked their second year of participation today, April 15, by wearing "Day of Silence" t-shirts and/or rainbow ribbons. Students who participated were also excused from speaking in classes and were encouraged to fill out an anonymous index card to place on the Wall of Secrets in the hallway outside the theater.

Sub-school principal Ken Black said that even with the perceived notion that teens are more accepting than the generation before them, the number of calls he gets to his office indicate otherwise.

"Bullying of lesbian and gay students is a problem," he said. But, he added, the Day of Silence is not about approval; the day is about tolerance and acceptance.

Guidance Counselor Karen Coombs is the adult advisor to the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), a student-led club in school begun by students during the 2009-2010 school year. She said since the club's inception, participation has doubled.

"We had a steady group of about 30 to 40 kids last year," she said. "Now, meetings are full with almost double that number."

Since the GSA began, Coombs said she's seen a difference toward the better amongst the general school population.

"Most of the students participating in GSA identify as straight," she said. "But they're here to show support for their friends and family."

Coombs said that GSA meetings address attitudes and how certain language can hurt and this, focus, too, has helped change the atmosphere at school for the better.

"Kids are feeling more comfortable and supported," she said. "The increase in participation is good evidence of that." 

The GSA this year is led by seniors Annalee Sepanski and Shannon Kelly who said they wanted to step in as leaders because GSA serves in important mission in school.

"GSA has had a really positive impact on our school," Kelly said. "We've had kids come to us and tell us how much it means for us to be here."

Sepanski agreed.

"Being part of the group is a safe place and our presence here has opened up a lot of minds," she said. "But it's also helped with the student-teacher relationship, too."

Kelly clarified, "When you know that teachers support what we're trying to do for tolerance, it's empowering."