School hallways can be hurtful places, but a group of students at Stonewall Collegiate Institute are making a difference.
Friends Recognizing Everyone Equally, or FREE, is an organization started by guidance counsellors in an effort to create a place for kids to discuss lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer issues.
“I just felt like it’s a place that was really comfortable and really open for a lot of people to basically just talk about anything,” one student said.
The group not only helps students and staff in their school, the Interlake School Division brought them in to work with all school faculties.
The FREE presentation has been made mandatory for staff in the Interlake School Division and includes faculty members, bus drivers and custodians.
“You know what it is, it’s kids teaching adults about what diversity is in the year 2013,” said superintendent Ross Metcalfe.
The group said their teachers are very supportive and Stonewall guidance counsellor Tara Didychuk is happy with how it’s being received.
“It’s not causing shock, it’s not generating negative responses. People are kind of like, ‘Oh, I know about FREE, it’s accepted in our school and community,’ ” said Didychuk.
Comments