You Spoke, We Listened

Reader Exchange

The launch of TT’s new anti-bias curriculum, Perspectives for a Diverse America (PDA), got educators excited!

I have already been building and using lessons; it’s great! PDA is very customizable to your diverse needs in your school and your classroom. As a teacher of diverse students in so many ways—including multiple disabilities—I have really been able to connect to so many of the resources from Teaching Tolerance. PDA is another great one.

—Submitted by Robin Gray King

An exciting time for educators, Teaching Tolerance and students. How wonderful!!! Congratulations.

—Submitted by Cathy Smith-Wenska

Ready for Fall

My name is Emily Major and I am a middle school social studies teacher in Denver, Colorado. As I [got] materials ready for this upcoming school year, I stumbled across your website and the wealth of free lesson plans that you have made available.

I am bookmarking many of these and am so excited to teach them to supplement my social studies content. All of these are excellent resources for students to learn tolerance and civil rights, as well as build on their strong character qualities.

Thank you so much for your work; it is very much appreciated.

Emily Major

Via email

It’s OK to Be Sad

[On “Create Safety by Modeling Vulnerability”] I love this article and agree 100%! My mom recently moved away and I miss her so much I started crying in class. My children saw me and we talked about missing people who go away and they told me stories of how they handled it when they felt the same way and gave suggestions as to how I can handle it better. It was endearing and definitely brought us closer and strengthened our trust in each other. I hope it also showed them that adults don’t have all the answers and that even the littlest kid has something of value to offer in a time of need.

Ashley Schwartz

Via Facebook

Remember the Roma

It would have been extremely welcomed if Teaching Tolerance would have brought awareness to August 2, the day which the international Roma (Gypsy) community commemorates the Holocaust and the genocide of the Roma that took place during WW2. … Roma were gassed at the ‘Gypsy Family Camp’ housed in Auschwitz. Close to 250,000 Roma were killed in death camps. … There are numerous sources that you can share regarding the 1,000 Roma youth that attended the ceremony in Krakow this year. Please help us educate.

Gina Csanyi-Robah

Via Facebook

Wrong Priorities for TT

[On “Teach for (a Diverse) America”] While TFA is certainly entitled to toot its own horn, this blog entry shows misguided priorities on the part of “Teaching Tolerance.” … Teaching Tolerance should be focused on real issues around promoting tolerance and not giving more PR for TFA.

Anonymous

Via tolerance.org

Offensive Image?

The picture on page 8 of your last magazine—for me—is not a “teach tolerance thing.” Women covering their heads is so un-tolerance. It has nothing to do with religion. … I am offended.

Gary L. Cobb

McKinleyville, CA

TT Responds

We use the image you referenced frequently because we hear from teachers that anti-Muslim sentiments are common in schools. Tolerance in schools must extend beyond breaking down barriers between those of difference races. Our hope is that Teaching Tolerance magazine can help educators understand the importance of honoring religious diversity as well.

Immigration Oversight

[On “An Educator’s Guide to the Immigration Debate”] This is good, but one important perspective excluded is how immigration policy is experienced by Native Americans. Since native communities were here long before the border, some native lands exist on both sides of the fences. People living in those communities have been subjected to increasing militarization and surveillance, as well as ongoing harassment from law enforcement and militia members who can’t differentiate … Native Americans and indigenous people from Central America[n] or Mexican citizens. These communities, despite being disproportionately affected by immigration legislation, are often entirely overlooked and excluded from the decision-making process. It would be great if this site fought against that injustice by including Native American experiences in immigration teaching resources.

Anonymous

Via Teaching Tolerance Magazine Online