New Glarus Middle School

     At New Glarus Middle School, we believe in fostering kindness, empathy, and awareness among our students. As part of our Academic and Career Planning Day activities, students participated in a powerful anti-bullying exercise designed to show the lasting impact of our words. The Paper Bullying Activity      Each student began with a blank sheet of paper—clean, smooth, and unmarked. Then, they were asked to write down hurtful words they had either experienced personally or heard directed at someone else. What happened next was a striking metaphor for the effects of bullying.      Students were instructed to crumple, stomp on, and shout at the paper—but not tear it. Afterward, they tried to smooth it back out and were asked to say phrases like, "I was only joking" or "I'm sorry." However, no matter how hard they tried, the paper remained wrinkled and scarred, symbolizing how even after an apology, the damage caused by cruel words often l...