By Ann L. Fouty
Staff Writer Grosse Pointe News
(Article posted by permission of Grosse Pointe News and Anteebo Publishing).

It was not unusual to see students who had not been friends before display comfort and support.

Every Pierce eighth-grader changed last week.
  Each one became aware of his or her faults, similarities and differences.  Students were made to admit the hurt they inflicted on others, apologize, forgive and in the end hug and cry.
  They will live the program for a few hours or the rest of their lives.  But they would be changed, one Challenge Day facilitator said.
  Through a series of exercises including group discussions and physical games, students confront their actions.  They saw they weren't alone in many of their life experiences.  And they learned who had different experiences.

Presenters Michael Allen and Erin Ross wanted to kow everything about the eighth-graders to make them aware of their actions.    Keeping the momentum of the program going at Pierce, the entire school will join with 600 other middle schools across the nation in No Name Calling week, Jan 2.  Students and staff entered into a group hug as awareness, hurt and forgiveness joined.

  Each half of the eighth-graders attended one session of the two all-day programs which had the goals of increasing their personal power and self-esteem, shifting negative peer pressure to positive peer support and eliminating the acceptability of teasing, violence and all forms of oppression.
  Erin Shook pointed out after only half a session that everyone she encountered was basically the same.  Students in her small group, none of whom she normally socialized, talked about the pressure they were under in sports, classes and in the home life.  "People had family deaths.  It was hard."
  These students are coming to school with a backpack, said Superintendent Suzanne Klein.  The backpacks are not only full of books but are also filled with feelings.  "The dog is sick.  I had a fight with my brother.  My grandmother is sick."
  Through Challenge Day the students will learn how to handle each problem and learn how to handle each other, she said.
  When facilitators asked who had been bullied, many moved from their place in the group to stand and look back into the eyes of those who hadn't been a victim of a bully.
  At the end of the exercise, which identified those who had been physically or verbally abused, those of various ethnic backgrounds or those touched by alcoholism in the family, for example, students recognized how alike and how different they were.
  Hugs and tears, confessions and apologies brought students and staff to a better understanding of each other just as teacher Sheila Moll predicted.
  The students will reap the rewards of Challenge Day said teacher Sheila Moll.  "It will make the kids aware of their words, actions and behavior.  Their will be a change -- treat others the way you want to be treated.  It teaches respect.  It's character education."
   Both facilitators Michael Allen and Erin Ross agreed, saying their lives had changed since being affiliated with Challenge Day.
  "It helped me become who I am.  We live what we teach.  I live 100 percent of what I am.  It's exciting," Ross said.
   Allen, who travels throughout the country hoping to influence schools and communities to listen and learn, said  "This is an opportunity to love each other.  This work breaks down the walls of separation."
   There are three points that Allen identifies in what middle school-aged children do to one another.  It was these three points he wanted to change:  1) Students hurt each other with words.  2) They judge and separate students.  3) There is violence in the schools.
   Changing students' behavior began as soon as the group shed coats in the St. Ambrose facility.  They were not allowed to sit by their friends, but rather to become acquainted with someone outside their normal circle of friends.
   Danny Pogue said he was able to share his feelings about his mother going through chemotherapy.  But he said he also listened and learned that his fellow Pierce eighth-graders were carrying other problems, just as burdensome.  These small group discussions pointed out to him, he said, his actions and vowed to be kinder to both sixth and seventh graders, as well as his peers.
   Allen said he believes that introducing this to students is a first step.
   "It's not just the students that need changing.  The change needs to occur in the community.
  "The adults and the administration need to change."  he said.  "They must keep moving and build teams including the community.  Teasing needs to be stopped.  All the violence needs to stop.  We need to honor each other.  When things change then kids will go to school without fear."
   We want to create an atmosphere of respect coming with head and heart, Klein concluded.

Challenge Day brought out the similarities and differences in eighth-graders who attend Pierce Middle School.  That hurtful words and actions injure should be replaced with respect.  This concept fits in with Pierce's overall philosophy, said principal Gary Bushnell.  Here students formed one line.  When presenters asked who had been bullied, rejected or ostracized, students stepped away from the group so the two sides could see where the hurt lay.  The two-day seminar accommodated all eighth-graders and was funded through private donations.