Middle schoolers pledge to eliminate derogatory word

SAUGUS – Saugus High School students led their younger peers at Belmonte Middle School in trading one “r-word” for another at an assembly Wednesday.The auditorium of middle school students stood and took the pledge to eliminate the derogatory use of the word “retarded” as part of the national campaign founded by the Special Olympics, “Spread the Word to End the Word.”Special education teacher Amy DeAvilla led the pledge, asking students to raise their right hand and recite, “I pledge to support the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word and other hateful words from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and differences.”The high school students, all part of the peer mentoring organization that works with disabled students, showed middle school students a video they produced about the campaign that featured students and faculty ripping up negative words written on index cards and throwing them in the trash.?The new r-word is ?respect,?” said students in the video.The peer mentors explained to the middle school students that even though the word has become synonymous for “clumsy” or “stupid,” it?s still a part of hate speech.?It?s such a common word that kids use in a casual context, but like a racial slur, it has serious negative effects,” said DeAvilla.DeAvilla said the high school students took the same pledge a few weeks ago. At that assembly, Lisa Howard, executive director of pupil, personnel services and special education for the town, shared a video with the high school that she had found on YouTube of a 9-year-old boy named “Matty B” rapping to artist Bruno Mars? “Just the Way You Are” about his little sister with Down syndrome.?If you have anybody in your life that you think is special, make sure you tell them,” said a grinning Matty B in the video.Howard said when that video was played to the high school population, “you could hear a pin drop,” she said, adding that it brought some to tears. The video had such an effect that they played it to the middle school students on Wednesday at their assembly, and though first there were laughs, by the end the students were silent, with a few scattered “awww”s.Saugus High senior and peer mentor Gianna Zirpoli, who sported a light blue cardigan in honor of the campaign?s colors, said she?s seen a change among her peers since the assembly. Though the “r-word” is still said, “When they say it, they catch themselves,” she said. “It?s going to get better.”DeAvilla said since the assembly at the high school, she?s seen more mixing of the general education and special education students in the cafeteria.?These kids, God bless them, are so innocent that they?re really unaware of anyone being mean to them,” said DeAvilla of her students. “But the kids at the high school are incredible. My kids don?t feel segregated at all. They feel included.”Zirpoli said “in time” she believes the middle school students will catch on to the weight of the word.?We take it seriously at the high school,” she said, “so when they get there, it will sink in.”