Schools strive for an environment where students can feel safe to learn, socialize, and grow. Bullying is a several century long problem that prevents thousands of students from feeling safe to this day. Dan Olweus(1931-2020), a psychology professor, established the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) in 1983, the first ever program created for the goal of preventing bullying. Since then, numerous laws and programs purposed for the combat of in school harassment have been established. Even so, plenty of students still fall victim to harassment whether it’s to their face or behind their backs. 

One way students experience bullying is through hate speech. “Hate speech is attacking someone for something they can’t control…” Joshua Johnson, a senior at CK, stated. It is threatening langauge targeted towards particular groups, such as race, sexual orientation, disability, sex, and religion. Hate speech has its deep roots in US history yet still prevails within schools. It takes place in forms of insensitive jokes, dehumanizing language, symbols [Nazi & Confederate Flags], and other certain gestures.

 “I hear stuff in the halls a lot, usually in a joking manner where they’re friends or or other cases where they’re mocking someone behind their back, ” Nadine Dockendorf, a junior and member of The Black Student Union (BSU) of CK, stated.

 “… at least once a day, whether it’s a racial comment, racial slur, or just a joke, “ Aalyiah Chandler, a senior and member of BSU of CK, stated. 

Numerous reasons point as to why students use hate speech. It may be to voice feelings of racism and bigotry or to bring others down in order for a sense of superiority. In most cases, students resort to jokes as they define them as “funny” or “edgy”. 

“It just feels dehumanizing, “ Dockendorf starts, “It hurts me to know they can say these things without repercussions…” 

“It just disappoints me to think that people are still thinking in such primitive ways.” Johnson stated.

Sarah Dowell and Evelyn Anderson are two sophomores that have witnessed a handful of hateful speech around CK, “It made me uncomfortable…” Dowell expressed. “It made me feel awkward, but I’ve kind of grown accustomed to it…“ Anderson expressed.

Once hate speech has affected a student [whether direct or indirect], there becomes a point where their way of thinking is confined into a negative headspace. “It just doesn’t really make me feel safe to come to school, like everyday, I fear that someone’s going to say something to me because I hear it directed towards other people. “ Chandler expressed.

Anderson depicted how situations of hate speech have affected her and why she feels confrontation won’t help. “If I gave into it, it would just be the same story every single time, “ Anderson began, “I kind of just got used to being in those situations.”

Confrontation is one of the several ways to end hate speech around schools. It’s a much easier thought on paper than to go through with it in real life. Students are at that age where vulnerability can be a fearful thing. The thought that so many problems could arise has the powerful ability to whisk away the feelings of courage.

“Because even though the school encourages students to do something or take action in the moment, it doesn’t really feel like there’s anything you can do, “ Dowell stated.

Although, there are plenty of times when students do build up the courage to confront an uncomfortable situation. Lexie Fortney, a senior at CK, mentions a situation involving an inappropriate script of “comedy” targeted towards the subject of autism and how they confronted a classmate that found it amusing. “…It was really awkward when listening because it’s an inappropriate conversation to have and it’s frustrating because you should know better, “ Fortney began, “Those who noticed it, gave the speaker weird looks. No one was confronted at the time. I confronted one of them [the classmate] later about it and he just brushed it off, “ Fortney concluded. 

Kaleb Kapiko, a senior at CK, also mentions a situation involving a hateful joke where he felt he had the courage to confront the perpetrator. “…some people joke, some people actually mean it. I just let them know I think what they’re doing is messed up…” Kapiko begins, “He said ‘Oh, I was just joking.’ I talked with that person and convinced him to stop saying anything like that again.”

It’s important that students are able to understand that confronting an uncomfortable situation is important to assuring it won’t happen again. As much as it can be scary, it can be powerful. Another effective form of preventing hate speech, is the act of enlightening students who are still ignorant to the issue among them. 

“Better education for students on POC history instead of just white history, “ Peyton Wyatt, a senior and member of BSU, stated.

“…educate in classrooms what language may seem acceptable but isn’t…” Dowell stated.

Students believe disciplinary action at CK doesn’t go far enough for something as serious as the use of slurs and other hateful speech around school. They’re either disregarded as minor incidents or overlooked altogether.

“I think at least detentions should be given because people get detentions just for being late to class,” Dowell stated.

Chandler depicts a situation where another student had personally faced hate speech, “No one defended them and the staff just kind of let it happen and no consequences were taken.” Chandler continues with the teacher’s reaction to hate speech that she’s recognized, “I feel teachers are very uncomfortable when it comes to hearing a student say the N word… They need to break out of their comfort zone and start telling them to stop because it makes other students uncomfortable,” Chandler concluded.

“…they treat the N word like it’s just a regular cuss word when it’s not. It’s a slur…this goes for all other slurs they overlook because these are hate speech and they need to be taken seriously, ” Chandler states, “…they are not being taken seriously and that’s why people use them so frequently. “ 

“I feel like students need to really be held accountable. And if that’s suspension, then it needs to be suspension,” Dockendorf stated. If the situation calls for it, then punishment going farther than just a strict talking-to should be the required action.

Ignorance is prevalent throughout CK, but with the right methods, students will be able to identify that certain words aren’t worth the expense of another’s experience. It’s important that students and teachers alike have the courage to fight hate speech and bullying and continue to ensure that Central Kitsap Highschool can be a safe space for all students no matter how they were born or choose to be.