"To remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all."— Elie Wiesel
Last week students and staff form the York Catholic District School Board visited the Museum of Tolerance in New York City, sponsored by the Simon Wiesenthal Center. The Center was founded in 1993 and challenges visitors to confront bigotry and racism, and to understand the Holocaust in both historic and contemporary contexts. The Museum has served over 4 million visitors with 350,000 visiting annually including 130,000 students. Over 1.5 million children and youth have participated in the Museum experience and its programs. Over 110,000 adults have been trained in the Museum’s customized, professional development programs which include Tools for Tolerance, Teaching Steps to Tolerance, Task Force Against Hate, National Institute Against HateCrimes, Tools for Tolerance for Teens and Bridging the Gap.
The experience offered students the opportunity to learn about, experience and discuss the effects of intolerance in the world and in their own backyards. This trip afforded them the chance to challenge their assumptions, question their existing beliefs, clarify any misconceptions, and most importantly...learn together the importance of keeping an open mind and respecting humanity, because no matter the year, country, race, religion or gender...all sixteen year olds are the same...they only wants to belong and be loved.Cheers to the 22 students and the staff of the York Catholic District School Board who actively participated in this experience and now continue this journey in their schools!
Last week students and staff form the York Catholic District School Board visited the Museum of Tolerance in New York City, sponsored by the Simon Wiesenthal Center. The Center was founded in 1993 and challenges visitors to confront bigotry and racism, and to understand the Holocaust in both historic and contemporary contexts. The Museum has served over 4 million visitors with 350,000 visiting annually including 130,000 students. Over 1.5 million children and youth have participated in the Museum experience and its programs. Over 110,000 adults have been trained in the Museum’s customized, professional development programs which include Tools for Tolerance, Teaching Steps to Tolerance, Task Force Against Hate, National Institute Against HateCrimes, Tools for Tolerance for Teens and Bridging the Gap.
The experience offered students the opportunity to learn about, experience and discuss the effects of intolerance in the world and in their own backyards. This trip afforded them the chance to challenge their assumptions, question their existing beliefs, clarify any misconceptions, and most importantly...learn together the importance of keeping an open mind and respecting humanity, because no matter the year, country, race, religion or gender...all sixteen year olds are the same...they only wants to belong and be loved.Cheers to the 22 students and the staff of the York Catholic District School Board who actively participated in this experience and now continue this journey in their schools!
What an amazing and rich experience! I don't know how these kids would have ever had this sort of opportunity otherwise. As complicated as some of the politics behind some of these issues are, there is nothing quite like the insight of our young people to give age-old issues a new sense of perspective. It would great to hear from some of the students who attended.
ReplyDeleteExperiences such as this will undoubtedly transform the lives of the 22 York Catholic students and the thousands of others like them who have walked the museum and participated in its programs. Just imagine the impact they can have as they share what they've seen, heard and felt! It is a message of hope with the potential of bridging differences in their school communities and even in the world at large.
ReplyDeleteThis will be a wonderful tool for our talented group to share their ideas and thoughts with each other. Thanks for taking the leadership here Lori.
ReplyDeleteDom