The act of respect is a task often introduced to us very early in life. It seems as though as soon as we walk into Kindergarten, we are bombarded with the simple lesson of respecting our parents, teachers, friends, and rewarded with prizes or praise whenever we commit a respectful act. Yet, as we’ve grow up, it feels as though the significance of being polite and well-mannered has diminished; so much so that in 2011, the state of New Jersey felt the need to include a way to recognize the act of respect in NJ schools’ each year through the establishment of the “Week of Respect”, as designated in the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act.
According to the New Jersey Department of Education, Week of Respect begins on the first Monday in October of each year. Therefore, this year it will take place from October 7th to the 11th. The Department of Education also states that Week of Respect serves the purpose of providing school districts with “an opportunity to recognize the importance of social and emotional learning (SEL) while placing emphasis on age-appropriate instruction that focuses on the prevention of harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB)” (Ehling, 1).
Even though each school is instructed to provide instruction highlighting bullying prevention, each institution celebrates this week differently. Here at Freehold Township, we recognize Week of Respect through spirit week-esque themes, where students are encouraged to dress a certain way or wear a certain piece of clothing that relates to a phrase involving respectfulness. The daily themes can be found below, according to Student Assistance Coordinator Mrs. Clyne:
Monday, 10/7: Wear blue for World Day of Bullying Prevention
Tuesday, 10//8: Wear your favorite rock band/music shirt to show that our school rocks
Wednesday, 10/9: Twin Day; match with a friend to band together with your buddies
Thursday, 10/10: Wear crazy socks to Stomp Out Bullying!
Friday, 10/11: Wear FTHS gear for school unity
All in all, no matter how your school participates in the Week of Respect, make sure you do your best to be just a little respectful next week. Whether it’s shaking the hand of someone new, not interrupting a friend when they’re speaking, or even just showing up on time, we all need a little extra ounce of respect in our lives.
Works Cited
Ehling, Kathy. Week of Respect 2024. State of New Jersey Department of Education, 25 Sept. 2024, https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2024/sept/25/WeekofRespect2024.pdf. Accessed 6 October 2024.
