Nov. 20 was 'National Kick a Ginger Day'

I didn't know the term 'ginger' was slang for a redhead until I read about this story on online news. I first heard about incidents in Calgary and didn't think much of them since this city has a reputation for being a redneck kind of town. Then I learned that there were incidents throughout B.C. and Alberta.

Youth need to do something better with their time, like volunteer at a homeless shelter. These perpetrators and delinquents should be sent to boot camp... or spare the rod, spoil the child?

CBC NEWS



Another story of abuse has emerged in B.C. as a result of a Facebook campaign to kick redheads — and this time it was a teacher's own brother who was targeted. A Facebook group, declaring Nov. 20 as "Kick a Ginger Day," encouraged people to kick their redheaded peers.

The Facebook group was likely inspired by South Park, a satirical, animated TV show that aired an episode dealing with prejudice, focusing on one character's hateful attitude toward redheads.

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Incidents throughout B.C., Alberta

The president of the B.C. Teachers' Federation is urging teachers around the province to use the incident to talk about the effects of bullying.

"Some kids will excuse it on the grounds of 'it's just a joke, it's not that serious,' but I think when you really get into that discussion with kids, the vast majority of them will come to the conclusion, at the end of the day, that nothing that harms other people should be acceptable in a society," Irene Lanzinger said.

The advantages of Facebook and other internet tools outweigh the disadvantages, she said, but constant education on their use is vital.

The Facebook campaign saw incidents of bullying and abuse throughout B.C. and Alberta.

Twenty students from Journey Middle School in Sooke, B.C., were sent home for kicking their redheaded classmates; a student in Prince George, B.C., went home from school after being kicked in the leg repeatedly; and 13 students in Calgary were suspended for beating up a redheaded teen.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/...i-bullying.html