Thank you for all the positive feedback toward my previous column regarding reasons to stop saying the word retard. For those who are wondering what Whitefish is doing in response, here is an update on what the incredible student body of Whitefish High School is up to.

With support from the Whitefish staff, students have created a club focused on forming positive peer relationships between students of all abilities. We meet weekly, with the hearts of friendship and minds of creating positive impacts in our community.

Known as Big Dawg Club, this group of big thinkers is going district wide to “spread the word to end the word.”

As a club, we are taking this global campaign to end the derogatory use of the word retard and adding our own twist to it. After setting up a plan for action, a number of students created a uniquely Whitefish video that captures students pledging to choose respect.

In the next few weeks Big Dawg Club is bringing the passion for our cause to the middle school. We aspire to show the younger generation not only the hurtfulness of using the “R” word, but also give them the tools on how to be proactive toward their own lives.

Our time with the middle schoolers will be multi-faceted. In addition to showing our video, we will also help facilitate small learning groups where we can help foster empowering and respectful communication that supports ending the use of the “R” word through reenacting real life scenarios and reflective discussion. We hope the end result will be that students gain insight on how to be responsible for their own language and how to respectfully request for others to do the same.

As high schoolers, we know the importance of our job not only as role models, but also as movers and shakers who know how to promote kindness and dignity within our community. As seen in the response to a heightened awareness of hurtful language, Big Dawg Club is working towards teaching respect to the community by modeling the empowered behavior that comes when you choose to make a simple change that impacts the lives of millions.

Respect yourselves and others.

If you are interested in donating to Big Dawg Club contact Mr. Bitterauf at bitteraufc@appswsd44.org or call 862-8600 extension 424.

— Grace Kurtz is a senior at Whitefish High School