BATH TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WSYM) — High school students everywhere experience bullying and name-calling.
Bath High School is trying to stop it by saying "words matter."
The students are participating in something called the Chalkboard Project.
Its purpose is to show the emotional effect words can have on students.
The pictures have been up all week of students holding small chalkboards with hurtful words people have said to them written on them.
Things like, "you'll never make it to Stanford," or "you will never be good enough."
Educators say they're focusing on Words Matter.
"They are hearing these words. They are seeing these words posted on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and, for them to put those words out there on these pictures, allowed them to let go of the power that those words might have," said Emily Fritz with Bath High School.
One of those students is senior Clay Adams.
People have told him: "Your mom would be disappointed," which he said hurts because his mother died of cancer two years ago.
"To have your mom not be here anymore and be disappointed in you or have someone say that, physically and emotionally and mentally, it's hard," Clay said.
Junior Katy de Leon's board reads: "Easy."
"Looking back on it, looking back at your life, you just take it with a grain of salt," said Katy.
Friday, students wrote positive things on each other's boards.
On Clay's board, people wrote "athletic," "caring" and "kind."
"Like I provide a light to the school, of what I have been through ... and how I have handled it and how other people see me handle it," he said.
On Emily's board, people wrote "inspiring," "funny" and "proud."
"It makes me feel full and accomplished a little bit, because I try to make other people good as well," she said.
Bath High School is the only school in the area doing the Chalkboard Project.
Teachers say they want to see other schools catch on.
