Words matter to these Evanston students

[tonysam]

Teens look to reduce use of the R-word


Some good news for a change:

Evanston Township High School senior Megan McCareins wants to stamp out the R-word as she and others try to change how fellow students talk and think about people with intellectual difficulties.

McCareins and a handful of students recently gathered more than 3,000 signatures from students and staff, who pledged to stop using the words "retard" or "retarded" as an offhanded insult or in a derogatory manner.

"Hopefully this campaign will mean people will always be thinking about their choice of language," McCareins said.

Evanston Township was one of 75 schools, colleges and universities across the state that took part last month in the "Spread the Word to End the ‘R' Word Day" campaign, said teacher Leslie Wenzel.

Chicago Tribune