Remember when that used to be us?

Written by Shawn Ruest on 29/08/12

Photo by Chapendra on Flickr

It’s taken awhile to climb the ladder, but we’re finally making our way to the top…of high school that is! But wait a second, who are these new kids walking in the halls of OUR school? I guess it’s our job to offer them a warm welcome…and by warm welcome, I mean a little initiating; after all, we all had to go through it, so why shouldn’t they?

Hazing has been around for a really long time, despite tons of organizations educating people about initiations and sharing ideas on how to prevent them (DEAL.org). For instance, at the beginning of the 2011 school year, a high school senior from Ottawa, Ontario hazed a freshman. Even though it happened after class and off of school property, the senior was still expelled (CBC News). This really shows us that schools are actively addressing hazing and initiations, even if they are more likely to happen when school’s out (Statistics Canada). So we know that schools are on board to help prevent it from happening altogether; is there anything we can do to help them out with this goal?

We can prevent hazing from happening on and off school grounds if we plan school spirit events when classes wrap up for the day. There are lots of team building activities that we can organize to make every student feel at home. We can even ask teachers for help if we need ideas, supplies, a venue and/or alternative ways for students to get home safely.

Photo by tomkikuchi on Flickr

A peer mentoring program can also help younger students get settled in. New students in my high school were paired up with a high school senior, and the duos would meet up throughout the year to catch up and make sure everything was going smoothly. If a mentorship program is created in all of our schools, hazing will have a hard time finding a home in our community.

These programs will take some time and hard work to run smoothly. In the meantime, if you hear anything about hazing or initiations taking place, or are affected by one yourself, talk about it with a trusted adult. People may try to sway you from reporting it by saying, “Everyone goes through it” but remember, even if we know people have been hazed in the past, it doesn’t mean we have to keep the ‘tradition’ alive. Whether it’s your first day of high school, or the beginning of your senior year, let’s work together to make it a good year for everyone!

Links

CBC News: Should high schools try to eliminate hazing Grade 9 students?
DEAL.org: Hazing
DEAL.org: How Far Is Too Far?
Statistics Canada: Where and when youth commit police-reported crime

2 Reader Comments:

1. 

   Evan LutzOctober 10th

   I know this happens alot in my school, but it seems no one has the initiative to take charge of the situation. The student council always promises ways to help new students feel at home, but it never happens. I would just like to know a way that works to make new students feel better so i could talk to the student council about it. Any input helps, thanks.

2. 

   Shawn RuestOctober 17th

   Hi Evan,

   Does your student council have grade reps? If not, this is one way that your student council can enlist help. Each grade in your school could have someone represent their grade in council meetings and help organize events.

   Welcoming activities like a school activity day with icebreakers will make new students feel at home. If the student council needs ideas for what types of activities to plan, you could suggest they make a survey for all of the students and teachers in your school. We would also suggest that your student council talk to the guidance counselor(s) in your school. The guidance counselors will be able to help your student council to create peer mentoring programs and school team building days.

   We hope this helps!

   Shawn

   **

   Bonjour Evan,

   Est-ce que ton conseil étudiant a des représentants en chaque niveau? Sinon, ceci pourrait peut-être aider le conseil. Chaque niveau scolaire pourrait avoir un représentant qui assisterait aux réunions et les représentants pourraient aussi aider avec l’organisation des activités.

   Des activités brise-glace pourraient aider les jeunes à se sentir à l’aise. Si le conseil a besoin des suggestions pour de nouvelles activités à planifier, tu pourras suggérer la rédaction d’un sondage pour tous les élèves et les enseignants de l’école. Nous suggérons aussi que le conseil d’étudiant en discute avec les conseillers en orientations. Ils pourront aider le conseil d’étudiant à créer des programmes de mentorat pour les paires et des activités d’harmonisation d’équipes au niveau de l’école!

   J’espère que ceci t’aide.

   Shawn