Students Discuss and Reflect on Current Events
Students in sixth through eighth grades took part last week in lessons created to teach about the events in Ferguson and Staten Island. The goal was to build conversation about the underlying issues of racism, discrimination, bias, privilege, and injustice. This life skills and advisory lesson is part one of a series which will continue in January.
The students discussed the basic facts in the cases of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Next, they read the response of Benjamin Watson, because he clearly shows how many different feelings even one person can hold about these events, and that reminds us to honor many points of view. Students then wrote their own reflections in response to this prompt: These are the thoughts of one person. How are you feeling in light of the recent events in Ferguson and Staten Island? Or, how are you feeling about racial progress in America in general?
Our students expressed themselves very thoughtfully and honestly, both in discussion and in writing. Our full faculty spent time reading and reflecting on the students' responses. Their words -- as sampled in the quotes that follow -- show wisdom, morality, maturity, and willingness to grapple with these crucial issues. We will continue the conversation.
“I’m angry because people can judge others on race when they don’t know the whole back-story. People pretend that they are not scared of a certain race, or don’t feel safer in another, when they really are. Our society can be so judgmental sometimes that it hurts my heart. Being judged is just like a terrible odor -- it lingers. If someone gets called scary or dangerous based on their race, it will stay with them.”
“I am afraid because my family may have the same issues, could be killed, but with no justice. I am understanding of what the officer did, but extremely disappointed in him. I am grateful that people are protesting and feeling the pain that the victim and his family felt. I am angry because the grand jury never gave justice to the family.”
“I’m frightened that people can look at each other and, without knowing anything about each other, assume they know what that person’s role in the world is. People are shoved into stereotypes like a child shoves flowers into a vase. We are so scared of each other we act before we think.”
“I’m angry because people can judge others on race when they don’t know the whole back-story. People pretend that they are not scared of a certain race, or don’t feel safer in another, when they really are. Our society can be so judgmental sometimes that it hurts my heart. Being judged is just like a terrible odor -- it lingers. If someone gets called scary or dangerous based on their race, it will stay with them.”
“I am afraid because my family may have the same issues, could be killed, but with no justice. I am understanding of what the officer did, but extremely disappointed in him. I am grateful that people are protesting and feeling the pain that the victim and his family felt. I am angry because the grand jury never gave justice to the family.”
“I’m frightened that people can look at each other and, without knowing anything about each other, assume they know what that person’s role in the world is. People are shoved into stereotypes like a child shoves flowers into a vase. We are so scared of each other we act before we think.”
“The imaginary barrier separating people because of their race, that caused people to enslave others, that caused people to wrongly mistreat fellow human beings -- is it still there? Laws have changed, but people have not.”
