Is Your School Involved in
National Youth Violence Prevention Week,
March 26-30, 2007?
National Youth Violence Prevention Week (NYVPW) 2007 will be celebrated during the week of March 26-30. It is not too late to get your school involved. Each day of the week will focus on an issue related to youth violence prevention:
- Monday: Tolerance and Understanding
- Tuesday: Anger Management
- Wednesday: Conflict Management
- Thursday: Safety and Security
- Friday: Uniting for Action
To help you get started with the first day’s topic, below are several discussion ideas for the classroom:
Discussion About Diversity
Ask students if they know what the word diversity means. Tell students that: "diversity is a word that we hear repeated a lot. We hear the word diversity in many different ways. Each of us have different things that come to mind when we hear the word diversity. Let`s come up with our own definition of the word diversity."Ask for student`s responses. Record words or phrases on the board, overhead or flipchart. Give an example of a documented definition of diversity. For example, Webster`s Dictionary defines the word diversity as: 1) The fact or quality of being diverse; difference. 2) A point of respect in which things differ. You can also ask students to research the word diversity and write a report about what they learn. Then, compare the 2 definitions (the student’s initial definition and then the documented one.) Keep the definitions up and visible in the classroom.
Then share the following definitions and discuss each one.
Diverse = Different, varied
Culture = beliefs, values, behaviors, customs and symbols (language) that are looked at as a whole and passed down and shared by a human group
Stereotype = a general idea or concept about a particular group, race or sex that usually is negative and applied to all people who are related to this group
Prejudice or Bias = an opinion or idea that is developed without knowing or by ignoring facts that prove otherwise. Often these opinions and ideas create an intolerance or hatred for others that this prejudice/bias attitude is directed towards and can lead to injury or harm
Discrimination = treating a group differently by showing partiality to one group over another, treating a collective group less favorably, and/or using a prejudice or biased judgment to exclude a group
Persecution = showing aggression and/or abusing a person or group for reasons based upon prejudiced or biased ideas/concepts
Minority = a part of the population that differs from other parts of the larger controlling group in some way
Racism = a belief that a person’s race is the main factor that determines human characteristics and abilities and that racial differences make one race better or more superior than another
Assign the following facts and figures to student groups. Have them discussion how tolerance and understanding can be affected by each:
Five Tips To Share With Students To Promote Multicultural Understanding
1. Educate Yourself! Educating yourself on others’ differences will lead to more friends and appreciation of your own background.
2. Experience other cultures! Experiencing other cultures will educate you more on the world. Visit ethnic restaurants, cultural festivals, or attend a religious service with a friend from another background.
3. Take a Stand! Don’t discriminate. Picking on others for their actions or beliefs affects everyone negatively.
4. Speak Out! When you witness discrimination or injustice, lead by example. Don’t be afraid to befriend someone who is different. Inform a trusted adult.
5. Team Up and Educate others. Work with other students and plan a cultural awareness event like a Mix It Up day event during lunch time or a cultural festival.
(Lesson ideas and Tips developed by National Youth Violence Prevention Week Youth Advisory Committee)
Be sure to visitwww.violencepreventionweek.org to learn more about how you school can participate in National Youth Violence Prevention Week, March 26-30, 2007.