CAN TOLERANCE
BE LEARNED?
INTRODUCTION:
Since the
violence at Columbine High School, (http://www.bouldernews.com/shooting/),
schools have become more aware of the fact that intolerance is both a
cause and a
result of hatred. The challenge
for students
and educators is
to promote acceptance of differences, thereby eradicating instances of abuse
from name-calling to violence.
This acceptance includes people of diverse races, religions, gender,
physical and mental abilities, sexual orientations, etc. How do you know if you have
hidden prejudices? Take the
following quiz: www.tolerance.org/hidden_bias/test.html. Consider these questions: Is
biased thinking related to identity? Is your acceptance of differences a
conviction or is it conditional upon the pressure of family, church, workplace
or peers? Can tolerance be
learned? Can behavior be changed?
What needs to be in place for groups to change intolerant behavior?
This webquest will help to explore these questions and more. When you use the internet for research, you must be careful because many people post personal opinions which may, in fact, be prejudicial. You may encounter hate sites if you explore this topic in further depth.
TASK: You are an individual who is sensitive to the issues of
tolerance and the results of prejudice and biases. You would like to make a
difference in today’s world.
But, can you make that difference?
Your task is to develop a plan of action which is to include:
· One personal, individual action or activity
·
One
action or activity for groups or classes
·
One
school-wide or community-wide action or activity
Use the following resources to
complete this task:
·
Questions to consider:
o
Examine
your results. Were you surprised?
Were you satisfied? Why? Or why
not? What do you think your
results reveal?
o
How will
you use the results?
2. Explore these suggested internet
sites which address the relationship between identity, values, and behavior
a.
From
Computation to Communication: Adolescent Girls and the Internet -- http://www.haverford.edu/psych/theses/chanlett-avery.99.html
-- scroll down to section titled, “Background in Adolescent
Theory.”
b. www.ncsu.edu/cgi-bin/netforum/svpf/a/3--5 -- then, read
Deborah Conover’s reply under “Reply to School Bullies and Cruel
Students”
c.
“Tolerance”
– an essay on tolerance as the most important virtue activematrix.org/phil1/readings/schwartz/tolerance.html
d. Those who can, do! Those who
can’t, bully! http://www.successunlimited.co.uk/bully/bully.htm
·
Questions to consider:
o
If you
were introducing yourself to a new person in your school, what five adjectives
would you use to describe yourself?
o
Does your
identity form your values; and then, your values dictate your behavior? OR, does your behavior create your
values, and therefore your identity?
o
Be honest: Is your behavior dictated
more by your values or by peer pressure? Are you satisfied with this answer? Is there reason for improvement or change?
3. Explore the suggested internet sites,
looking for examples of prejudicial behavior among teenagers. From these examples, speculate on the
causes and patterns of this behavior.
a.
“Columbine
Jocks Safely Resume Bullying” www.theonion.com/onion3532/columbine_jocks.html
b. Prejudice and Discrimination home.att.net/~Rwfreebird/prejudice_and_discrimination.htm
c.
Bully Box
bulletin board of incidents of bullying and intolerance www.antibullying.net/bullyboxfeedback.htm
d. A Survey of Bullying Among Maine Third
Graders http://lincoln.midcoast.com/~wps/against/bullying.html
e.
Bullying in Schools – a good site
for characteristics of bullies and victims and possible interventions www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed404154.html
·
Questions to consider:
o
Define
bullying. Is there a difference between teasing and bullying?
o
Where is
bullying most common? Is it a
severe problem? Why or why not?
o
How is
bullying an example of prejudice?
o
What is
the correct response to a bully?
o
Can
bullies change? What would lead to
this kind of change?
4. Explore the suggested internet sites,
looking for instances in which individuals stuck to their convictions and stood
up against bullying and intolerance despite pressure and opposition. From these
examples, speculate on the causes and patterns for this behavior.
a.
Good Teens
www.projo.com/special/goodteen/main.htm
b.
·
Questions to consider:
o
What are
the characteristics of people who stand up to bullies?
o
How did
their actions turn out?
o
How do you
think they feel afterwards?
5. Explore the suggested internet sites,
looking for ideas and activities that other schools or groups are using to
promote acceptance of differences.
a.
Prejudice
and Discrimination home.att.net/~Rwfreebird/prejudice_and_discrimination.htm
b. Center for the Prevention of School
Violence at North Carolina State University www.ncsu.edu/cpsv/index.html
(“Go to the School Violence Prevention Forum” and read what others
are saying)
c.
Cultural
and Identity – Strengthening Cultures and Promoting Tolerance www.caa.org.au/parliament/forums/culture_and_identity/
d. Anti-Bullying Network for Young People
– advice, information, and school-wide ideas www.antibullying.net/youngpeople.htm
e.
Stop
Bullying Now http://www.cary-memorial.lib.me.us/bullyweb/
f.
101 Ways
You Can Beat Prejudice – from The Anti-Defamation League site -- http://www.adl.org/Prejudice/default.htm
g. Five-Step Process to Combat Hate
– select “Responding
to Situations You Find Offensive: A Five Step Process” www.adl.org/ctboh/default.htm
·
Bookmark or take notes on sites with ideas you think might
work.
o
Which
ideas might work at Canton High
School?
o
What can
you do as an individual beginning right now?
o
What would
you like to see your classroom teachers do within a class?
o
What
school-wide changes might make a difference?
Now, generate your own action plan!
Your task is to develop a plan of action which includes:
· One personal, individual action or activity
·
One
action or activity for groups or classes
·
One
school-wide or community-wide action or activity