they can surprise you



Only in Canada ....


‘I’ve stood around too long’
Central Kings students wear pink to send bullies a message
By IAN FAIRCLOUGH Valley Bureau | 3:51 PM

CAMBRIDGE — Two students at Central Kings Rural High School fought back against bullying recently, unleashing a sea of pink after a new student was harassed and threatened when he showed up wearing a pink shirt.

The Grade 9 student arrived for the first day of school last Wednesday and was set upon by a group of six to 10 older students who mocked him, called him a homosexual for wearing pink and threatened to beat him up.

The next day, Grade 12 students David Shepherd and Travis Price decided something had to be done about bullying.

"It’s my last year. I’ve stood around too long and I wanted to do something," said David.

They used the Internet to encourage people to wear pink and bought 75 pink tank tops for male students to wear. They handed out the shirts in the lobby before class last Friday — even the bullied student had one.

"I made sure there was a shirt for him," David said.

They also brought a pink basketball to school as well as pink material for headbands and arm bands. David and Travis figure about half the school’s 830 students wore pink.

It was hard to miss the mass of students in pink milling about in the lobby, especially for the group that had harassed the new Grade 9 student.

"The bullies got angry," said Travis. "One guy was throwing chairs (in the cafeteria). We’re glad we got the response we wanted."

David said one of the bullies angrily asked him whether he knew pink on a male was a symbol of homosexuality.

He told the bully that didn’t matter to him and shouldn’t to anyone.

"Something like the colour of your shirt or pants, that’s ridiculous," he said.

"Our intention was to stand up for this kid so he doesn’t get picked on."

Travis said the bullies "keep giving us dirty looks, but we know we have the support of the whole student body.

"Kids don’t need this in their lives, worrying about what to wear to school. That should be the last thing on their minds."

When the bullied student put on his pink shirt Friday and saw all the other pink in the lobby, "he was all smiles. It was like a big weight had been lifted off is shoulder," David said. No one at the school would reveal the student’s name.

Travis said that growing up, he was often picked on for wearing store-brand clothes instead of designer duds.

The two friends said they didn’t take the action looking for publicity, but rather to show leadership in combating what they say is frequent bullying in schools.

I think that is awesome!! Good for them!!

wow thats simply amazing!

Awesome!!!Something positive for a change.

I absolutly love it.
Standing behind the good guys not following the bad guys.

misbehavin..just remember one thing about the bullieee. they're the real in-secure people..you sound like a real champ....dee..

WONDERFUL!!!!! I LOVE THE KIDS IDEAS!!!! STOP THE BULLYING!!!!

Well, here in AZ. pink is the new black

..I know - isn't this great ! I don't even have kids but I was moved by this

Well, I know when I first saw a football player wearing black shoes with neon pink laces I said,,Huh? But that's it, and then came the admiration for the balls it took to wear them, and then I started seeing all kinds of guys wearing Pink and I just love it, it shows they are comfortable enough with who they are not to worry about steroetyical views

Miss B. we ran a programme for kids, we coloured their hair pink for a day at the schools..and it was a "Have you ever been bullied day?".

All the kids who stood up and got their hair coloured wore it with pride, and while their hair was being sprayed they shared their stories...much laughter and empowerment came from it, and many new friendships came from it also.

Even some of the bullies stepped up to have their hair sprayed, and shared their story...

All in all perspective changed within the young people, they were more aware of the fact they weren't isolated.

I like pink. Aerosmith