Teachers.Net Meeting - Integration Of Visually Impaired And Blind Students Into The Regular Schools

Wednesday, January 5, 2000
Focus Session
World of Difference Program
with
Marji Lipshez-Shapiro
of
The Anti-Defamation League's
A World of Difference

Kathleen - Teachers.Net welcomes Marji Lipshez-Shapiro who will share information about the Anti-Defamation League's World of Difference Institute. School Psychologist/author Beth Bruno recommended this topic saying, "a terrific program, one that many schools have used to improve the kindness climate among teachers and students." Marji, what is your role in the World of Difference?
Marji - I am the Director of the program in CT
Marji - There are offices throughout the USA and some overseas
Kathleen - A World of Difference- Anti-Defamation League http://www.adl.org/frames/front_awod.html
Kathleen - According to their website: A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute is for people who share a community - be it a school, workplace, neighborhood or campus. The program started in Boston in 1985 when the Anti-Defamation League and WCVB-TV joined together to fight prejudice. From the start, this remarkably effective way to promote diversity was embraced. It changed hearts and minds, and it quickly spread across the nation - and beyond. The A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Institute now operates in the United States and in cities abroad.
Sassy - How do you get a program started?
Doug - Marji- tell us a little about the nuts and bolts. are there lesson plans at the web site?
Marji - You contact the ADL office in your region
nicker - I've participated as a member of the diversity World of Difference Dream Team, its oneof the greatest programs i've ever participated in.
Kathleen - Goals of the World of Difference Institute are: To recognize bias and the harm it inflicts on individuals and society .To explore the value of diversity and improve intergroup relations. To combat racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of prejudice and bigotry.Does implementing World of Difference require special training for faculty involved?
Sassy - Does each state have an office?
Marji - A World of Difference actually encompasses several types of programs
nicker - The other members and I have brought what we've learned and brought them into our school with much success
Mary K&1 - Can you give us some examples of the types of things that can be done in a classroom full of young children?
Marji - There are programs for teachers K-12 which often include an excellent ANti-Bias Guide filled with activities
nicker - I had particitpated last year and requested to join again....what age group?
Mary K&1 - 5 - 6 year olds
Marji - With children of all ages, we suggest that educators begin by setting groundrules for discussion
Kathleen - Marji, are you able to describe any specific activities for use in a classroom for young children?
nicker - lacking experience, i'd say books that express equality
Sassy - Do they come into the school to train the teachers or do you attend classes?
nicker - well the names really do hurt us program comes to the school as a whole right Marji?
Marji - It is important that students have an opportunity to discuss basic groundrules like respect and openness
nicker - but thats a program for older students
Kathleen - Marji, is WOD mostly a preventative program, to be used before prejudices are formed (such as at early age)?
Marji - The activities emphasize skills such as developing empathy, learning more about one's own culture and identity etc
Marji - I often say that some teachers and parents call us because they "See the liight" and others because they "feel the heat" In other words it can be both reactive or pproactive
nicker - some programs teach others how to open awareness as well
Kathleen - From the WOD website: At the center of A CLASSROOM OF DIFFERENCE is the anti-bias curriculum that provides teachers with lessons to help students: Explore prejudice and bigotry; Improve critical thinking skills; Examine diverse viewpoints;Take leadership roles .
Sassy - Do you come into the schools and train the teachers or do you take classes or attend workshops?
Kathleen - Beth, I was saying that the World of Difference program has your enthusiastic endorsement. :-)
Marji - Most of the time, trained facilitators come to the school
uni - How does this program differ from something such as Project Peace?
Sassy - Does each state have an office to contact?
Marji - There are also programs for high school students
Mary K&1 - How do these programs and activities differ from what teachers usually do - teachers who haven't been through the training? What new "teachers behaviors" will teachers bring into their classrooms?
Vanea - is WOD a nationwide program?
Marji - I am not aware of that program
Beth Bruno - A friend of mine has taken the training to lead WOD programs. Students get so much from sharing their stories!
Marji - Yes - it is nationwide - acctually very active in Europe as well
nicker - i did not know that Marji that's amazing
Beth Bruno - A top athlete spoke tearfully about his learning disabilities - he had the whole school in tears.
Mountainette4/WV - where can you find the names really do hurt program - sorry I just got here
uni - Can you tell us a little about the curriculum?
Marji - The program offers resources and skills that are typically an addition to what teachers are already doing, if they are skilled in the area of diversity education of course
Kathleen - I know of at least one school administrator who is reading along tonight. Would those of you who are familiar with this program urge him to consider it for his school?
Marji - There are curricular resources for elementary and secondary educators
Beth Bruno - Yes I would urge anyone here tonight to learn more about the program and try to bring it into your schools.
nicker - As a student I give the program my highest recomendation
Beth Bruno - Nicker, what did you learn from your participation?
Marceynews - as a parent and educator I give the program outstanding grades!
Marji - The Names Can Really Hurt Us program was developed in CT and is now beginning to be offered in other areas - Calif. and St. Louis I believeand S
Marji - It is a very powerful program where students teach other students - they are trainined and coached by ADL trainers to tell their stories concerning name-calling, bullying and prejudice
uni - CAn you explain what the curriculum is like? What happens in a classroom - say middle school?
Beth Bruno - There are many topics that are hard to broach with kids. The training helps adults practice that before having such discussions with their students.
nicker - well as a member of the Dream Team diversity training i learned to be more accepting of others, as a minority myself i know its hard to be different and i felt safer after the program, knowing that i was supported
Beth Bruno - Discussions with students start out in small groups, don't they Marji?
nicker - Also, we learned activities which we perforned with students from my highschool
Marji - Nick is actually talking about another program we offer for student leaders from 21 high schoolsr
nicker - small groups offer more comfort for students who arent as open in larger groups
Susan - What is the url for WOD's website?
Marji - In the Names program, there is a large student assembly program featuring the student panel It is followed by small group discussions.
Kathleen - What funding options have worked for school districts?
Marji - I'd like to know what others are doing to work with student on issues of name-calling and prejudice
Beth Bruno - Students are also given the opportunity to write about the problems they've encountered with name calling or prejudice - before they speak about them.
Kathleen - One activity some teachers use with little ones is a "wrinkled heart" activity, wrinkling or tearing a paper heart to show how each mean action harms another
Marceynews - funding - insurance companies, other businesses, local civc groups funded our programs
Mountainette4/WV - I have done the paper cutout of a person where we say negative things and tear it - then say nice things and apologize
Marji - Programs have been funded in many ways - school budgets themselves (esp. anti-violence funds) , corporations, foundations, individuals When a school gets psyched to do it, they are very creative
uni - I am in training (and just begun so I can't give a lot of details yet) for Project Peace. Project peace works on a similar principle but iot involves student mediation
Ellen/MA/1 - You said this program started in CT, How long has it been running?
Marji - The names program has been running for five years
uni - I use a lot of materials from the Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance programs and also from Rethinking our Schools
Marji - Both are excellent resources
Beth Bruno - Can teachers become trainers? If so, do they lead groups in their own schools or in other schools?
Marji - What are folks doing to involve parents in the discussion ofi these issues?
Mountainette4/WV - uni - do those resources have a web site?
Susan - I teach a Martial Arts For Peace program..and have had great results.
Ellen/MA/1 - My school is involved in Peace Games, which originally started at a college in CT with a professor I believe.
uni - yes both do - hold on and I will see if I can locate then
Susan - There's a student book and curriculum: Why is Everybody Always Picking on Me that is excellent for focusing on these issues.
Marji - ADL hires trainers wh facilitate our programs, some are teachers
nicker - if parents can get involved as their children are younger, i feel that it would make a significant difference
uni - http://www.rethinkingschools.org/ Rethinking our Schools for materials and resources
Marji - On the ADL website you will find an excellent resource "What to tell your child about prejudice" - a collaboration with the national PTA
nicker - i feel the prejudice is taught first at home, and teachers cant control that
Beth Bruno - Is there a parent component to WOD programs?
Susan - Many programs don't focus on the roots of conflict or environmental conditioning...nor do they train teachers to have the skills themselves so they are role modeling what they are teaching.. Does ADL do these things?
uni - Southern Poverty Law Center "Teaching Tolerance" Program http://www.splcenter.org/
nicker - but i feel that its harder to change adults
Susan - Teachers can make a big difference... even if predjudice is part of the home environment
Marji - Tell me more about what you mean about the roots of conflict
Marji - ADL does have a parent component
Mountainette4/WV - my students know how I feel about name-calling, ect. Therefore they don't let me hear any negative comments - they are being said however. How do I deal with that?
nicker - well i knwo that if i walk in the hall that words which are hateful are commonly used
Marji - Do you provide an opportunity to talk about problems?
Beth Bruno - Good question. Kids are experts at making their nasty comments out of earshot.
nicker - i dont think you can stop it all but you can open up an awareness to the affect it could have on someone
Marji - The worst problems are on the bus, in the cafe and hallway.
Susan - Our environment from the time we are born caused us to have beliefs/attitudes/predjudices. Many programs don't address that component. Consequently, students are taught skills without understanding their own attitudes or where those attitudes come from.
Beth Bruno - That's a message that comes through powerfully at the WOD and "Names" sessions - i.e. the hurtful effects of namecalling on others.
Marji - Nick - what do you think teachers can do to open up an awareness to the impact of name-calling?
Susan - The difficult piece is that often, they/we have NO idea we even have these beliefs
Susan - Suddenly we react to a situation, and wonder why such and such upset us so much, or why do we just not "like" someone we don't know...etc.
nicker - well i know some teachers dont tolerate any negative name calling in their classrooms , thats a start
Marji - Susan - do you mean prejudices?
nicker - but i've heard taht after the names program students have changed their ways on what they say and where
Marji - It is very important to admit that we all have prejudices. The issue is our behavior - do we act on our prejudices?
nicker - the thing is students use these words with a different mean for example , gay is commonly heard but meant as stupid, unfortunately for anyone who is gay this is offensive
nicker - but also the word "straight" is used as a way of saying you are alright
Susan - Predjudice is part of what I mean..but I hate to say predjudice alone because people have a concept of what "predjudice" is and that concept doesn't necessarily address all our internalized beliefs that cause conflict
Gin - Marji, are you supporting a program that will help with unacceptable remarks?
Mountainette4/WV - I would really like to examine the names program - did you give me a url for it - or a place I can get a teachers' curriculum guide?
Beth Bruno - Kids get so wrapped up in themselves, they forget sometimes that their words and actions can have a major negative affect on someone else.
Marji - It is actually not yet included on the ADL website you can e-mail me at lipsm@adl.org for more info
Susan - verbal bullying is far more damaging over time than physical bullying.
Marji - I agree - yet it is not frequently spoken about
nicker - i think the verbal is what leads to insecurity
Daisy - With younger students, story telling often works: I teach in a private school, and had a little girl a couple of years ago with very serious learning disabilities. There was some teasing, and I made up a story of a 6-year old boy, very much like the teasers, who had a brother who couldn't talk very well. The 6-year old defended his brother, and the children obviously felt sad with what the little boy who couldn't talk very well went through.. The incidences of teasing of the little girl decreased dramatically after this story.
nicker - Unfortunately its brushed aside by comments like "kids will be kids" or the saying "sticks and stones...."
Susan - and I see parents/teachers ignore verbal bullying a lot... many will say ..it's normal...and blow it off. In my classroom..namecalling doesn't happen..yet I hear the same students I have will be in another classroom and be unmerciful.
Gin - I also think that insecurity is a reason for verbal inappropriateness
nicker - name calling is also caused by a person's own insecurities
nicker - people need to feel superior and use name calling as a way of gaining an upper hand
uni - I think sometimes adults are uncomfortable with their own prejudices. They ignore certain name calling or verbalizations because deep down they may agree
Marji - One of our students tells a powerful story about becoming a bully to impress the "cool" group of girls
Mountainette4/WV - I agree - it seems like the most insecure kids are the ones doing the name-calling and bullying
Susan - insecurities play a huge role... which is why a program has to teach adults how to empower kids so that they are confident enough to use the skils they learn to resolve conflict
Gin - Susan, students rise often to the level we expect of them. When they can get away with it, their behavior is sometimes appalling.
Susan - uni..you make an astute observation... which is why training the adult is so important.
uni - But they would never say it themselves
Susan - I see teachers trained to teach children skills..but they don't have the skills themselves and the children quickly see that
Marji - I notice that when students realize how big an impact their words and actions have had, they are shocked. we have seen some amazin apologies during our program.
Susan - Children often have no idea how devastating the effect of their words are
nicker - well marji, i have forgotten her name but her story about when she was a name-caller and a bully and it was too late for her to apologize
Marji - I agree Susan -These skills need to be taught to teachers - they are not usually included in the teacher prep curriculum
nicker - shows how much name calling can affect someone
uni - So how are teachers trained in this program?
uni - How much time? How often?? Is it something to be renewed?
Susan - The other piece that is necessary is that no matter which program a school uses.. ALLLL the teachers must be trained in it and consistent in employing the techniques/methods/standards..or children get a very confused message as they move from teacher to teacher
uni - Where is the training done and with whom?
Mountainette4/WV - has anyone bought and used the posters they have out now on character building? They show such things as respect, responsiblility, and cooperation?
Gin - Mountainette, are you talking about the Life Skills?
Marji - I am having a difficult time responding because we are actually talking about several A World of Difference programs at once!
nicker - you know what works to, bulletin boards
uni - How nick? Sometimes I think no one looks at them?
Susan - smiles..at Marji... chat can get confusing
nicker - with young children if they create the bulletin board as a class project then i think that they would learn a great amount of how prejudice hurts
Mountainette4/WV - gin - I just bought a set of posters - there is one set for 1-3 and another for 4-6. Haven't received them yet.
nicker - i used to think so too, but you'd be surprised who you catch just glancing as they walk by or actualy looking at it
Gin - I use a Life Skills set that has 14-15 traits and definitions.
Mountainette4/WV - I saw a bulletin board using a tree and the children put on leaves saying when someone does something nice
uni - GOOD! Glad to know all those hours I spend are worthwhile!! (I teach 6th and it is a difficult age socially)
Marji - What are others doing to fight prejudice in their schools?
uni - Me too Gin (Do you do CLASS?)
nicker - also, if you put up a bulletin board of a current event and everyone hears about the event they are more apt to stop and look at the bulletin board
Susan - I'm a high school teacher..so outside of giving teacher workshops... I work with my students... talk, talk talk to them..role model... talk with them... I also co-facilitate an anger management group at the school. It's been an eyeopener..
Gin - Our town has been the site of the Ford Foundation research because for a town of 35,000 we are much like a very small Los Angeles. We are working on fighting prejudice.
Susan - Outside of my school, I go to other schools and train teachers, and work with parents and local business groups
nicker - for example some friends of mine and I put up a bulletin board about the Columbine Shooting and that had a great affect on the students
Gin - The Ford Foundation found that our cultures live independently of each other.
uni - Right now I am in a mini-unit as we look at World Governments of "HEROES, LEADERS< ICONS" why certain people become leaders and how they can lead you to good or bad - we look at Ghandi andHitler and Mandela and Mother Teresa, Eleanor Roosevelt etc etc
Susan - And I teach a Martial Arts for Peace Program
Marji - Gin - In other words thre is racial isolation?
Gin - They suggested more cross culture activities.
Gin - Marji, yes, there us the racial isolation. At first there were many conflicts...physical.
Marji - uni - what do kids today say about heroes? Who are they looking up to?ng
Susan - One thing I have learned is that we can teach kids all the skills, help them gain the understanding..but..they are still a part of the social pressures of this culture and will make choices at times that go against what they've learned.. because they feel insecure in the moment.. Kids need experiences to give them confidence
Susan - I was amazed that most my elementary students said their heros were their PARENTS
Gin - We try to celebrate each others holidays that are not controversial. We teach respect. But in reality it is very hard. Many of our students are first generation Americans.
Gin - We have also learned that students tend to forget their differences when they work together on projects...but remember them after the bells.
nicker - its harder if your town is a predominantly one group
Marji - There is an excellent new video "The Truth About Hate" which features students from the Hispanic and Armenin cultures transforming a situation of conflict into collaborationto
uni - In general I would guess mostly sports people and it is discouraging when you have people like Rocher? (Atlanta ball player) who mouth off racial ephithets every time around. My kids often pick very ordinary peopleas their heroes - in 6th very seldom their parents.
nicker - but i think curriculum should be introduced into history programs
uni - I teach at a school where 47 different languages are spoken - and I am in central Indiana!!!
Gin - Yes, uni and the rap music that uses unacceptable names for ethnic and racial groups don't help one bit.
Marji - Wow! That is how schools will eventually be in most cities and towns
Gin - Our school has EVERY sign in English, Spanish, Vietnamse, and Braille.
uni - Well I am in a university town - the 6th grade next door to me has nine non-English speakers in class of 25
Mountainette4/WV - that's a good journal topic - who are your heroes and why
nicker - wow i mean we have a hand full of students who can fluently speak a different language, or have a native language in their background
Susan - Where do you get the video The Truth About Hate?
nicker - but i see something in the chatroom already, i hear a lot about ethnic minorities what about other minorities
uni - I come up against another problem as well. Our school is also a magnet for special programs. We have the preschool Special Education program (kids 3-5 who have been identified as needing services) all the ENL kids (English as another language) and the gifted program. I find the prejudice against the kids in the gifted program to be greater than any racial issues
nicker - there's sexism, homophobia, heterophobia and other types of prejudices
Susan - wow..uni.. I don't think people often think about the predjudice against "smart" kids..but it is significant
nicker - definately, in a way i believe it grows from eny
uni - Well and the prejudice from some teachers against the other teachers who teach in that program
nicker - envy
Gin - When you teach in a "have not" school, reverse predjudice is often common.
Marji - Kids who are considered "smart" are frequently targets of taunts
uni - In the gifted class it is largely (about half) Asian children - so ...we have that prejudice too
Gin - Yes, one of the ultimate insults at our school is to call a kid a school boy.
Marji - I don't believe in reverse prejudice - Prejudice is prejudice!
Susan - nicker..that is what I was referring to when I say people have an set concept about predjudice --we often think only interms of minorities or homophobia... but there are so many other issues that create unsafe situations in schools.. whether psychologically unsafe or physically unsafe
uni - Yep our GT kids are frequently called the Generic Turds
nicker - true , i must have missed that susan, but you know what jocks cause a great deal of strief on minorities
uni - We have a wonderful International Potluck Dinner - celebrate our diverse population
Mary K&1 - Marji, there are just a few minutes left, do you have any closing thoughts you'd like to share with us this evening?
Marji - I respect all the teachers here for working on these tough issues - please know that the ADL's A World of Difference program is a terrific resource - fighting prejudice and building bridges of understanding is our mission
Mary K&1 - Marji, thank you for coming this evening
Mary K&1 - And thank you to all who participated here this evening.
Marji - Thanks - this was great. Contact me at lipsm@adl.org
Mary K&1 - Thank you all and good evening
Mountainette4/WV - thank you - good night
Marji - Good night!