Red Ribbon Week promotes student responsibility

NEWBERRY, Mich. (WLUC) – An eastern Upper Peninsula school district is encouraging students to pledge to a drug- and bullying-free lifestyle.

Just outside the Tahquamenon Area Schools central office, a banner shows students, staff and parents pledging to stand against bullying and drugs.

This is part of an anti-drug and anti-bullying campaign called Red Ribbon Week, which started last Wednesday. The district works together with Communities that care (CTC), which is committed to reducing drug use and delinquency among teens.

Coordinator Jamie Rushford says it’s encouraging to see all these signatures.

“The first time we launched it, I didn’t really know what to expect. I came back about a week later and it’s almost full,” Rushford said.

CTC also provides courses on preventing drug, alcohol and tobacco use. Tahquamenon Area Schools Superintendent Stacy Price says the banner is a visual representation of students’ dedication to bettering themselves.

“It’s a way for students to come forward and say, ‘Hey, this is not okay, this is not something we should be doing,’” Price explained. “Saying no, and continually saying no to those who are not nice to other students.”

Rushford says simply telling students statistics is not an effective way to reduce drug use and bullying. She says the banner allows for a more effective strategy: accountability.

“We want to make sure that teens can identify with someone, and who can they identify with most? Their peers,” Rushford explained. “By seeing someone’s name they are demonstrating good behavior, and we hope other teens will want to demonstrate the same kind of positive behavior.”

Red Ribbon Week ends Oct. 31, but Price hopes these conversations will continue well into the school year.