The grade 9-5 and 9-6 students in Ms. Connell's Language Arts classes at Birchwood Intermediate School wrote poems about racism, discrimination, verbal abuse, and bullying from their own perspectives.  The students also learned how to create a web page to enable them to showcase and to share their outstanding work with you.  We hope that you will learn something about the effects and potential effects of racism, discrimination, verbal abuse, and bullying.  We hope that you will be inspired to do your part to prevent and to eliminate racism, discrimination, verbal abuse and bullying so that our world will be a better place.  "The Power of Words " poetry below are their words. Racism - The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. Discrimination - Unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of prejudice; single out for special favor or disfavor, distinguish between; treatment based on some sort of group, class or category rather than individual merit Verbal Abuse - using WORDS to attack, to dominate, or to control another person or persons in an inappropriate, demeaning and hurtful manner. Bullying - To treat or intimidate with threats or in an overbearing or intimidating manner; to force one's way aggressively by intimidation with words and or actions. These are definitions.   Choices, actions, and responses are real.  Words are powerful.  Words can hurt.  Words can heal. Ms. C :)   THE POWER OF WORDS written by 9-5 and 9-6 Language Arts Students at Birchwood For All Can Belong by Kyle M. Another Day by Aaron C. I Hate the Way You Laugh at Me by Bethany F. Let's All Friends Be Friends by Aaron W. Racism by Adam O. Bullying by Ashley H. All Alone by Rebecca R. From Within by Charlene W. Racism by Brodie M. & Brandon K.  Racism is Wrong by Caleb R. I Saw by Catherine M. Be My Friend by Danielle F. Smart and Proud by David M. Bullying by Emily G. Why? by Evan B. How far would you go? by Hailey C. Don't Make Fun of Me by Jalisa J. We Were the People by Jen B. Differences by Jennie T. Racism by Jessica M. Racism by Jodi M. Why Mommy? by Katherine M. What's Fair? by Kathleen C. All Alone by Katie C. Another World by Krystal M. Everyone is the Same by Laura W. It Doesn't Matter by Lucas H. I Know Who I Am by Maggie What is Pain? by ML Why Do You Make Fun of Me? by Melissa T. Don't Bully by Melissa M. World of No Cares by Mikhala Too Scared by Mitzi What I'm Trying to Say... by Natasha What to do? by Peter W. I Don't Understand by Ross Stop Verbal Abuse by Ryan T. Just Not Right by Sabrina Why Me? by Sam and Emmy I Just Want to Say Stop by Sarah It's Too Bad by Stephanie H. Bullying by Stephanie M. Why Do Bullies Have to Fight? by Thomas C. Maybe They'll Learn by Cayla H. The Wall by Fierah L. Racism Is by Karen N. He's by Rose Q. R.A.C.I.S.M. by Janessa W. Rush by Jacinta S. Peace by Chris B. The Same Yet... So Different by Logan D.   Click a title above to read a poem or click the button below to begin. ^To Top of Page