MONROE — Students were quiet as their thumbs moved with lightning speed, texting as quickly as possible Wednesday morning at Monroe Middle School.
It wasn’t hidden from teachers, though. About 90 National Junior Honors Society students gathered in the auditorium to set a world record for the number of texts sent in five minutes, while spreading a positive message of ending the use of the word “retard.”
“Language affects attitudes. Attitudes impact actions. Spread the word to end the word. www.r-word.org.” was the text sent 1,636 times by the students to family and friends. Students also texted to an email account with each message so the texts could be tallied.
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Students had fun texting in school but also appreciated the deeper message.
“Basically, we’re telling people not to call others the ‘R’ word, it’s not just hurtful, but it’s not right,” said Austin Nye, 14-year-old eighth grader. “We are all different in certain ways, but that does not mean anyone is less important. We are all special in our own way.”
Before the texting race students watched a video about discrimination. Afterward, teacher and school-improvement coach Scott Hoppert shared his personal story.
Two of his three children have autism, which keeps them from being able to speak.
“You have the opportunity to share a message with your gifts and talents you have that my children don’t,” he told the students. “They can’t tell me, ‘Dad, I’m sad today.’
“I’m so proud of you taking the time to do this today.”
The honor-society texters also helped to put an estimated 3,000 sticky notes around the school. Students showed up about an hour before the bell rang Wednesday to post notes saying “Spread the word to end the word” and “Treat people the same.”
Mr. Hoppert will send the email verification and a video of the record-setting event to recordsetter.com for verification.
He said he expects some students to get teased just for participating in the event, but he said he knows if some get the message it will make a difference.
“I thought it was a great experience to spread the word that even if someone has a learning disability they are still people that have feelings,” said Abigail Bitzer, a 13-year-old eighth grader who sent 27 texts during the five minutes. “We’re pledging to make the world a more accepting and including place.”
Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com, 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.
First Published March 5, 2015, 5:00 a.m.
