Posted on February 15, 2019
National No One Eats Alone Day is a student-led lunchtime event that has spread to more than two thousand schools in the U.S.
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| The movie "Wonder" is about a kid who has cranial facial syndrome (although the movie makers chose not to cast a young actor with this syndrome). |
The day got its start when some teens got together to honor the life of Lili Smith. Lili was born with "cranial facial syndrome," which made her look different enough from her peers that, during middle school, she became more and more isolated.
In other words, I am guessing, she ate a lot of lunches alone.
When Lili died unexpectedly at age 15, that's when the teens got together and started discussing the social life of middle schoolers. It's not just a matter of meanness or bullying - of course those things are awful - but it's also a matter of just not including people.
Thought experiment: If you are a member of a group, and every lunchtime you sit with them, talk with them, laugh with them - you may be nice to everyone else, BUT you may not even think about the fact that there is a kid sitting all alone, every day, feeling bad about themself.
Is it all your fault that kid is alone?
No, of course not.
Is it PARTLY your fault that kid is alone?
Yep.
Because it's not that hard for little old you, all by yourself, to fix it!
So that's what the day is all about - everyone taking responsibility for inclusion.
The important things to remember is:
Let the teens be in charge.
Here are some resources from Beyond Differences.
Also on this date:
National Gumdrop Day
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