POCATELLO — With many individuals wearing T-shirts that sported the phrase, “Spread the word to end the word,” the entire student body of Irving Middle School turned out for an assembly Friday to help abolish the word “retard” as a derogatory term for the mentally or emotionally challenged.

    The word has been in the English lexicon for hundreds of years, but has more recently been a term which casts negative light on some special needs persons.

    “The Irving Special education staff is excited to promote this campaign to students and to teach them the importance of respect,” said special instructor Lisa Baker. “We are fortunate to be the only junior high school in Pocatello to have a Developmental Learning Program (DLP) for students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades who have severe disabilities.”

    Baker said students in the general education population are able to learn about and get to know students with severe disabilities through this awarness campaign.

    “We are asking all students to make a pledge to remove the R-word from their vocabulary,” Baker said. “Knowledge is power.”

    A short film starring “Scrubs” and “Platoon” cast member John C. McGinley kicked off the event, while speakers included Irving DLP pupils Jordan McNabb, 14, who suffered Shaken Baby Syndrome as an infant; and Nick Myers, 11, a young man who began losing white brain matter at the age of three and was not expected to live until 10 years of age.

    Also on the agenda was former Irving student Molly Hale, who went on to star in the Special Olympics.

    “Retard does not describe who I am or what I can do,” said Hale, who was born 29 years ago with Down Syndrome. “I wish people would use other words. I would like all of you students to use other words, too. Everyone deserves respect.”

    An activity was also presented which brought several mainstream students as well as a teacher in front of the assembled multitude and asked them open candy wrapper without the use of their arms, hands and eyes. The point being that many of the special needs pupils have to live with these limitations every day.

    “We are hoping students will share this information with family and friends and spread the word about the word,” Baker added. “I am a special education teacher, teaching in the district for 14 years. I also have a daughter with a severe disability and am very passionate about teaching others respect for individuals with differences.”

    For more information please visit the website http://www.r-word.org/Default.aspx or contact Baker at 241-2664.