There is a problem that many children have to face and sometimes, they must face it when they are quite young. It is an issue with bullying and it seems as if children are either being bullied or bullying others. Sometimes, this is seen in the schoolyard and at other times, it is seen at home. It is also something that tends to follow people throughout their lives and we may even experience it in the workplace!
One young boy in Wisconsin, named William, experienced a similar problem at school. He was very proud of this new T-shirt but when he wore it to school, his classmates started teasing him. They were calling him a sissy and he was stressed out over the situation. The reason his classmates were calling him a sissy was because his new T-shirt was pink. In the end, he went home crying.
It happened when nine-year-old William Gierke wore a pink T-shirt to school to show his support for cancer sufferers. The shirt read, “Tough Guys Wear Pink” and was from a breast cancer charity. Unfortunately, William’s fellow classmates did not feel the same level of support and they bullied him for wearing the shirt.
William’s mother, Tomi was heartbroken when her son came home from school with tears in his eyes. He didn’t want to go to school the next day and his mother wasn’t sure how to solve this problem. Fortunately, however, his teacher was watching.
When William showed up to school the following day, he was prepared to be teased again. That is when he saw his teacher, David Winter, who was wearing a pink T-shirt. He had seen how the other students were treating William and he wanted to show his support.
This may seem like a small gesture to some, but to William, it meant everything. It also sent a message to his classmates that they should not bully other students for what they wear.
William had the following to say when his teacher took that stand for him: “I feel more comfortable, I don’t let it bother me anymore.”
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