Feb. 13, 2001--
Take a walk down many school hallways and the four-letter words you hear are not "math" or ""read."
But one Utah junior high school is trying to clean up students' language.
Education Specialist Nadine Wimmer found its creative effort is making quite a difference.
At Brockbank Jr. High, students themselves decided it was time for a change.
So many of them have taken the pledge to swear off swearing.
Shane Smith/Student: "IN A NORMAL HALLWAY, I PROBABLY HEAR 30 SWEAR WORDS EVERYTIME I WALK DOWN."
Christie Mirebile/Student: "AS I WALK THROUGH THE HALL, AND TEACHERS HEAR IT TOO, THE ONLY THING THAT'S COMING OUT OF KIDS' MOUTHS IS SWEAR WORDS."
So students at Brockbank Jr. High, with the help of their teachers, took on a campaign called bleep week.
They pledge to avoid using swear words or bad language.
And when they hear it in the hall,
they bleep the offender.
Teachers were surprised at students' conviction, and they've tried to follow up with positive lessons.
Julie Wallace/Teacher: "WE JUST REALLY WANTED TO EDUCATE KIDS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT HOW THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES AND HOW THEY TALK REALLY SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT WHO THEY ARE."
Nadine Wimmer: "THEY DIDN'T THINK STUDENTS WOULD JUST STOP USING BAD WORDS ALTOGETHER, SO THEY LET STUDENTS SUBMIT ALTERNATIVE WORDS INTO A BUCKET, AND HERE ARE A FEW THEY CAME UP WITH."))
"HOLY KAZOLI."
"FRYING FRITTERS."
"SAYING HOLY KAZOLI WHEN YOU STUB YOUR TOE IS LIKELY MUCH BETTER THAN...**BLEEEP* YEA."
The effort hasn't wiped out bad words entirely, but students say it's done a lot to make them feel safer and more respected in school.
David Mast/Student: "I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING, 'CAUSE KIDS HAVE STOPPED SWEARING, USUALLY, AND KIDS WHO STILL DO GET LOOKED AT DIFFERENTLY."
The pledge campaign was supposed to last two weeks, but it's proven so successful, they'll carry it through the rest of the year.
