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When you teach this classic text, are your students surprised by the injustice portrayed in it? This teacher’s students aren’t—not anymore.

“I hate Jews.” That was the sentence, uttered coldly and dripping with vile undertones, from the mouth of a sixth-grader that nearly caused me to let a very powerful teachable moment slip through my fingers. Almost.

When a conflict between students escalated to a physical level, this teacher looked at all the factors involved, including the classroom space.

Earlier this year, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed HB 2281 into law, making it an offense to teach courses at any grade level that promote resentment towards a race or class of people. The law further states that no classes may be designed for any ethnic group or promote ethnic solidarity. This despite the fact that, according to the U.S. Census, 30 percent of the state is made up of Latinos.

Whether it’s the bully or the blonde, the nerd or the jock, most of us are familiar with a wide range of stereotypes. We’ve also been affected by them. But there are plenty of unexpected stereotypes that need to be acknowledged as well.

Learn how to combat censorship and book banning in your school or community with these actions from the American Library Association, National Council of Teachers of English and People for the American Way.

Persepolis helped make the case for open discussion and books reflecting a variety of cultures.

The theme of Women’s History Month 2013 is “Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.” Make March a jumping-off point for a year-long effort to invite female students into the world of STEM.

Think you know all about the march? Think again!