Campaign at Nelson High School

Students spread message of kindness, social respect and human empathy!

Tina Dine, a Grade 9 and 10 English teacher and Grade 12 writer's craft class instructor teacher at Nelson High School, has launched iRESPECT at the school this semester. iRESPECT, a school-based campaign, is aimed at spreading the message of goodwill and giving and receiving respect!

The program focuses on getting students involved with spreading the message of kindness, social respect and basic human empathy to their peers and families. The campaign is a grassroots phenomenon. Dines would like students to spread the message, not administration – she wants them to think of the seven habits as a way of living, not rules of the school.

Dine says, "I developed this campaign because I felt concern for my students, staff and fellow Burlingtonians. I am not criticizing any of these parties, but it is obvious to myself and many others that we don't live in a society where human kindness is a priority". "We walk by each other and don't say hello or smile. This is not to say there are not many, many great students at my school or in my town. I just want to empower them; I want them to feel like they can make a change in how we treat each other."

Seventy students, along with and many staff members, showed up at the first iRESPECT school meeting. They were told they could help change the way people treat each other, not just in the school, but throughout the community. Locker magnets with the seven habits printed on them were handed out and approximately 400 students and half of Nelson's staff committed to wearing them! The students ran a Smile Give Away and a Free Hug campaign with over 50 students visiting other classrooms in order to share information about the campaign.

Maya D'Alessio, a Grade 12 student, is excited about the campaign. She said, "There's a lot wrong with the world right now and hopefully we can change some attitudes". D'Alessio is writing a feature story on iRESPECT for the high school’s student magazine Roxanne.