Power of Words Initiative

“I realize that if you can change a classroom, you can change a community, and if you can change enough communities, you can change the world,” something the Upper Elementary School Principal, Trevor Haskell, wants his students to learn during this “Power of Words” initiative.

Haskell kicked off “Power of Words,” in late April with a demonstration for his students in the Upper Elementary gymnasium. He squeezed toothpaste from a tube and had some of the kids attempt to get it back into the tube using toothpicks. “It made the correlation that whatever you say, it’s out there and you can’t take it back,” said Haskell.

This initiative is designed to make students aware of how words can affect not only themselves, but society and those around them. “You don’t know someone’s story and everyone has a story, so you need to be careful about what you’re saying.”

There are three different parts to this initiative. The first, every student received the “Book of Wonder.” This literature focuses on a child who was born with facial differences and was nervous to start school. Haskell broke up the book into eight sections for his staff to read to students each week. “It’s powerful and it takes time, but I think this is the work that needs to be done in the world we live in today.”

The second part, a lesson from Erin Gruwell, the author of the New York Times bestselling book, “The Freedom Writers Diary,” which is the basis of the movie “Freedom Writers.” The book tells the story of Erin Gruwell and her 150 at-risk students during the early 1990’s. To create a brighter future for her them, she used writing and literature to persuade them to embrace history, humanity and hope. She specifically used literature to compare the turmoil of time to some of the worst examples of society’s inhumanity towards others. This helped Gruwell’s students relate and write their own journals, becoming a form of solace. When the students anonymously read each other’s journals, division was replaced with unity and understanding. As a result, the “Freedom Writers” were born. Gruwell and three of her original Freedom Writers will be coming to the school the week of the 15th to speak with students and staff. On May 18th, the community is invited to listen to Gruwell and the Freedom Writers talk about their experiences and struggles growing up. CLICK HERE to sign up.

 The third part, the creation of a parent group. Haskell chose 15 parents, from the community, who all come from different walks of life. He will work with them in two sessions to introduce them to Gruwell, talk about the climate and culture of the Upper Elementary building and what they can do together as a community to make improvements. “If we can have a common message at school, to home, to the little league fields, to pop warner or where ever it may be, we can all come together as one community,” said Haskell.

Ultimately, he wants his students and staff to be conscious and understanding of everyone and everything. “What they say, what they type and what comes out of their mouth can greatly affect others, can greatly affect themselves and can greatly affect society.”

CLICK HERE for photos!