Cool To Be Kind: At Schools Across America, Embracing Kindness As The Theme For The Start Of The School Year
Cool to Be Kind: At Schools Across America, Embracing Kindness as the Theme for the Start of the School Year
This article is part of a series on that showcases the courageous individuals, triumphs, success stories, and acts of kindness happening in schools across America. To read more inspiring profiles, visit The74Million.org/series/inspiring.
Kindness has been lauded as the ultimate form of wisdom by Rousseau. In our schools, kindness is seen as a powerful virtue that has the potential to create positive change in the world. As a result, schools are incorporating kindness into the everyday lives of students in various ways.
The recent kindness movement has revealed unlikely heroes who have defended students against acts of cruelty. For example, a group of bikers and a well-known rapper have garnered attention for their actions.
In a heartwarming incident, a group of bikers in Streamwood, Illinois made headlines when they escorted a middle school student named Megan Kuntz on her first day of school. Megan, who had been a victim of severe bullying the previous year, had developed a fear of returning to school. However, after learning of her story through social media, dozens of bikers from the Chicago area came together to support her. With Megan sporting a biker bandanna, the bikers formed a protective escort for her as she made her way to school. The sight of her smiling and fist-bumping her entourage was a testament to the support she received. Megan’s mother expressed her gratitude, stating that this act of kindness made her feel like she had an entire family supporting her daughter. The bikers, wearing T-shirts and leather vests adorned with pins and American flag patches, sent a clear message that they stood against bullying and were there to protect Megan.
In another act of kindness, rapper T.I. became a hero for a sophomore at a school near Orlando, Florida. The cafeteria worker at the school had taken away the girl’s lunch because her account was 15 cents short. T.I. expressed his outrage on Twitter, calling the cafeteria worker’s actions "despicable" and "petty." He subsequently paid a thousand dollars into the girl’s account, ensuring that she would have lunch for the rest of the year. This story touched the heart of a civil rights lawyer, who started a GoFundMe campaign to help provide school lunches for children from struggling families.
Not only are adults stepping up, but children are also showing support for one another. At Hernando Middle School in Memphis, Tennessee, four students arrive at school at 6:30 a.m. every day to personally welcome each student who enters the building. Their gesture of kindness has not gone unnoticed, with eighth-grader Bethany Wilder expressing that kindness does not require a specific reason, just the desire to make someone’s day better. Seventh-grader Cody Eaton eloquently compared kindness to butter, saying that it needs to be spread around like it’s on toast.
Kindness is not only its own reward but also recognized and celebrated at Mount Judea School in Arkansas. Students of all ages have received certificates acknowledging their acts of kindness, with some even having the chance to win cash prizes in a raffle, as reported by HarrisonDaily.com.
While school initiatives play a significant role in promoting kindness, it is essential for individuals to genuinely like themselves in order to exhibit kindness towards others. Ultimately, kindness has the power to create a positive impact not only in schools but also in society as a whole.
Instead of the usual routine at Open House this year, I decided to try something different. I asked parents to write a short note of encouragement for their child, which I could then save and give to them on difficult days. The response from these parents was outstanding. They absolutely nailed it with their heartfelt words of support and love for their children. It was truly heartwarming to witness.
