Make no mistake: kindness matters. Empathy - the ability to understand and feel what others are going through - matters too. Yet we are in a time where kindness and empathy often take a backseat to academic achievement. This is why initiatives like the Week of Respect - an annual event celebrated in New Jersey schools (with similar events across the United States) - help create a significant beneficial environment for students. But what exactly is the Week of Respect, and what does it mean to us here at The Ville?

The “Week of Respect” initiative started in New Jersey in 2010 as part of our state’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act. The goal of the week is to engage in activities and discussions to raise awareness about respect, diversity, and the importance of preventing and standing up to bullying. Initiatives like this matter because our goal as individuals should be learning to become more accepting, and not to tear others down. 

One of the goals of the Week of Respect is to promote inclusion within the school community.  While kindness and empathy matter, inclusion matters too. And here in the Ville, we make inclusion not just a goal, but an everyday practice. We talked to Dr. Erin Rosenberg, school psychologist at Somerville High School, about the various ways Somerville High School practices inclusion.

“As far as inclusion goes, I really think SHS does an AMAZING job. We have so many things like Peer2Peer, Unified PE, and Unified bowling that a ton of students are involved in. I have also seen students in the halls stop to help a special education student who is struggling or students who go out of their way to cheer on someone they know has a learning difference.” 

Yet like everyone, we can always improve and get better at the things we do and the various ways we do them. So what could we be doing better with regards to inclusion, respect and understanding? “I think where we can improve is in the general education community and encouraging kids to realize that they dont always know what someone is going through, so it is important to always be kind. A small gesture can go a long way if someone is having a rough time” says Dr. Rosenberg.

Respect, as they say, is a two-way street. This is why the Week of Respect is so important, because not only should students respect each other, but teachers and students should respect each other as well. Having mutual respect for not just your peers but your teachers, while your teachers in turn have respect for you; is integral to academic and personal success. Peer pressure can be a powerful force, both positively and negatively. This is why during Week of Respect, students are encouraged to support and lift each other up; creating camaraderie and unity within the student body. 

Statistics speak for themselves: the Week of Respect matters. And Dr. Rosenberg agrees. “We are doing our best to point out that everyone has differences, even if you can't see them; so you should always approach a situation with an open mind and a kind heart”.

With that in mind, let us finish the Week of Respect with an open mind, and an even kinder heart.