After a boy is bullied for wearing pink at school, his teacher shows his true colors
Many teachers are more than just educators. A good teacher can leave an impression on a student that can last them the rest of their life. A compassionate teacher who tries to understand students can help them thrive in and out of the classroom, especially when it comes to bullying.
For one student who was being bullied, his teacher knew exactly how to react and even teach the bullies a lesson in the process.
A teaching moment
David Winters, a fourth-grade teacher in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, found himself in the role of teacher in more ways than one. The teaching moment came after 9-year-old William Gierke was bullied while at school.
William, newly arrived in the fourth grade, had worn a bright pink shirt to school. As he arrived, some of his classmates took it upon themselves to ask him why he was wearing pink. An honest kid, William told his peers that he had worn the shirt because he liked pink. That is when the other students started to pick on him and call him a sissy.
‘Tough Guys Wear Pink’
William wore the shirt, which he got from a breast cancer charity, to show support for people with cancer. On the shirt was the saying, “Tough Guys Wear Pink.” After he was bullied, he came home and told his mom, Tomi, that he didn’t want to go back.
Mr. Winters showed William his support
Heartbroken for her son, Tomi did her best to cheer William up. Feeling better, he decided to give school another try the next day. That’s when he received a surprise from one of his teachers, Mr. Winters.
As he arrived at school that morning, he was greeted by Mr. Winter, who was wearing a pink shirt. Over the rest of the week, Winters wore a pink shirt to show his support for William, and to show William’s bullies that tough guys do wear pink.
Winters snapped a photo of him and William together, both of them wearing pink shirts. After William sent the photo to his mom, she sat in tears at her desk. As a parent, it was a relief to her to know that William was in such good hands.
A simple gesture with a big impact
Winters’ great response to William’s bullying shows that he truly cares for his students. Furthermore, it shows just how big an impact such teachers can have on the lives of their students.
Who would have thought that such a simple gesture as wearing a pink shirt in solidarity could make a bullied student feel less alone? It is also a sure bet that William will never forget his kind fourth-grade teacher who took it upon himself to make a stand for one of his students.
You can watch the heartwarming video of William’s triumph over his bullies, with a little help from Mr. Winters, in the video below.
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