Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD – Though no vandalism actually occurred, students, faculty and staff at Fort Fairfield Middle School have left their mark on a school wall.
About 130 people have signed their names on paper “bricks” pledging to do their part to create a positive school environment. Those bricks have been used to create a “wall” in the sixth-grade corridor.
“A while back, I came across a newspaper article in a civil rights newsletter about the Birmingham Pledge,” said Heidi Rackliffe, a student intern, who is also majoring in social work at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. “It talked a little bit about history, how we often repeat ourselves, and how a lot of hurtful language can go on.
“A middle school downstate took the Birmingham Pledge from Birmingham, Ala., which was basically a community that got together to end race, and modified it slightly. Anybody who could follow this pledge, created by an attorney, would sign a wall, which was their symbol to represent the pledge,” she said. “I took the idea and brought it to Fort Fairfield as a way for the kids to realize they can create their own climate in the school setting. They are the ones who control the words that go around.”
Rackliffe went to each sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade class and talked about her idea of bringing the Birmingham Pledge to the school.
“I gave a few examples of some of the things that go on around school and how even one person can make a change in the world,” she said. “I had the idea that instead of signing the actual wall that we would build the wall together. The wall that we built states the pledge so they can see it every day. If they felt they could follow the pledge, they were able to get a brick to sign, and those bricks were used to build the wall.”
The sixth-graders had to bring the pledge home, discuss it with their family members, sign it and have their parents sign it, as well.
“We also had cooks, maintenance, superintendents … everybody sign bricks,” said Rackliffe. “Anyone who believed in the pledge we challenged them to live it. The motto of the pledge is ‘Sign it – Live it.’”
The pledge states that:
• I believe that every person has worth as an individual.
• I believe that every person is entitled to dignity and respect.
• I believe that all acts of hurtful language and behavior are harmful; if it is my act, then it is harmful to me, as well.
• Starting right now, I will work daily to eliminate hurtful language and behavior from my actions.
• I will encourage others to do the same.
• I will treat all people with dignity and respect; and will work daily to honor this pledge, knowing that my school, community, and the world will be a better place because of my effort.
When sixth-grader Caleb Daigle first came to the middle school, he noticed there was a lot more name calling.
“If someone calls someone a name, then the other person might feel real bad and then start calling other people names to make themselves feel better,” he said. “If someone signs the pledge, it means they should respect others.”
Daigle, who was among the first in his class to return the signed pledge, said he hopes to set a good example for his brothers.
“I’m going to try to not be mean to my brothers,” he said. “I’m trying my best to be nice to them. I have three younger brothers, so I want to be a good role model for them.”
Seventh-grader Erin Williams hopes other students will take the pledge and do their part to create change.
“I believe that people shouldn’t be calling other people names and be nice to everybody,” she said. “People call other kids names every day. By showing that I’m committed to do my part, then the other students will become committed, too, and think it’s a good idea and then the school will be a better place.
“If everyone is treated equally,” said Williams, “kids won’t have to worry about people talking behind their backs.”
Spencer Campbell, an eighth-grader, said he has been on both sides of the name calling issue.
“I signed it because I was one of those people who would call others names, and have also been called names,” he said. “I thought about the younger kids from the elementary school, too. You’re walking around and start calling people names just for the heck of it and they’re standing right there. What are they going to do? They’re probably going to go run around and say it too.
“The hall wall that the bricks are on is probably the main entrance for the middle school students, and they always look at it,” said Campbell. “Hopefully they’ll think about the pledge when they see the wall.”
Though not all the middle school students signed the pledge, a majority of them did.
“Even after the wall was up,” said Rackliffe, “we had a few people come to us and say, ‘Is it OK if I still have a brick?’ Some high schoolers heard about what we were doing, so we do have a few names of high school students who wanted to do the pledge, too.”
The wall will remain in the hallway for the rest of the school year. The school’s civil rights team will most likely do a similar project again next year.
“We would like to challenge all other schools to attempt the Birmingham Pledge,” Rackliffe said, “so we can create a better climate not only in Fort Fairfield but in all the surrounding communities, as well.”
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF at Fort Fairfield Middle School have signed their names on paper “bricks” pledging to do their part to create a positive school environment. Modeled after the Birmingham Pledge, the students agree that every person has worth as an individual and pledge to work daily to eliminate hurtful language and behavior. Pictured with the bricks are, sitting, from left: Caleb Daigle, Matt Theriault, Candis Madore and Steven Wentworth. Kneeling: Nathan Guimond, Spencer Campbell, Connor Churchill, Erin Williams and Sarah Holbrook. Standing: Robyn Daigle, school social worker; Tim Watt, vice principal; Heidi Rackliffe, student intern; and Andrew Mabry.
