Students tear down ‘wall of intolerance’ |
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Saturday, 14 March 2009 01:00 |
ASSUMPTION—Students at Assumption Holy Trinity School, responding to President Obama’s request for all people of the United States to “get up and use our hands to help others” decided one way to reach that goal is to tear down things that get in the way of cooperation and positive change.
Students began tearing down a “wall of intolerance” they had constructed with paper bricks representing negative words, phrases and experiences they have heard that hurt other people and can make users intolerant of others.
The destruction of the “wall of intolerance” was an attempt to help Holy Trinity students think about the words they hear — and, therefore, not repeat them. After the wall came down the children met in small groups at lunchtime to talk about problems that come up and work out solutions or other things to say that aren’t hurtful.
“Everyone wants and needs a place to fit,” states Kim Castaneda, school counselor, “and children, especially, want to fit in … to be a ‘like’ part of the crowd around them, and also to feel safe. When they’re singled out for the wrong reasons, it can be very hurtful and damaging to their self image.”
The “wall of intolerance” is one of the projects Mrs. Castaneda has introduced at the school as part of the Mix it Up at Lunch Day initiative.
“The Mix it Up lunches have been a great way to help our children try different things,” says principal Linda Justen, “to sit with different people, talk about different things, instead of always having the ‘sameness’ each day at lunchtime. We want each of our students to know as much as they can, and be the most excellent person they can be — all the time.”
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 06 May 2009 09:09 |
