Help JHMS fight racism! We need your voice to help JHMS embrace, understand, and appreciate the power of race. Mahatma Gandhi challenged us all to "Be the change you wish to see in the world!" So won't you join us in our fight against racism?
Hiding ourselves from others due to fear of judgement
To share...
our feelings
emotions
reasons for our actions.
How will these meetings help up?
Be friends with everyone.
Show how it feels to be judged.
Learn more about our culture, parents, etc that will explain why we are the way we are.
Understand who we are, where we come from, what pain we feel and how that impacts how we act!
Remember to NOT JUDGE a GIRL by her COVER (skin, clothes, hair, actions).
Redefine what we stand for....Redefine "popularity"
Outcome:
We learned more about each other. When we learned about each other, we realized we are more alike than different! We realize that we only see the tip of the ice berg and there is so much more to know. What we don't know about each other is what helps us connect, be empathetic, and what helps us to be friends!!
Goal:
When someone tells me something "ify" about another person, I will say, "I wonder what is going on in their life that makes them act this way?"
Norms - and why they are necessary: Stay engaged, Expect to experience discomfort, Speak your truth, Accept and Expect a lack of closure,
7 Steps to having a Courageous Conversation:
Step 1) Choose someone you don't feel 100% wonderful or complete with, but would like to.
Step 2) Identify the truth/core of what you want to express. If you were to die today, but could pass a message to each person you know to clean up anything left incomplete, what would that message be? I suggest you list the people you have the strongest feelings about (positive or negative), and write down next to each name the message for them. (Working with a coach can help you get to the core of this, and ensure you are taking responsibility instead of blaming.)
Step 3) Identify the worst outcome you can imagine
Step 4) Accept that possibility (Let go of the thing you were holding on to e.g. money, being right, staying out of prison, not upsetting someone)
Step 5) Remember it's OK to feel uncomfortable - even terrified. Your vocal chords will probably still function. The greater the fear, the more you have to gain. The chances of you dying are normally quite low.
Step 6) Remember it's actually possible to have fun with this. After all - it's better than any rollercoaster you can imagine. You are truly living....
Step 7) Pick up the phone, share honestly, and take what you get.
After the Conversation? What then? The possibilities are endless:
Research project coming out of two stories. Can we link our stories to this one? What do we need to research and why? How will our stories build toward a more tolerant and ACCEPTING JHMS?
A downloadable video game takes on the role of immigrants trying to find their way toward citizenship. In a world of complicated paperwork, naturalization scams, and detention without due process, gaining full citizenship is more challenging than most might think. The site includes information as well.
Talk back to media with regard to sexist images in popular culture. Explore how 200 words or less can deconstruct some of the most disturbing sexist images today.
Welcoming Schools - 93-page guide to help teachers and admin improve their approach to family diversity, gender stereotyping, and bullying.
1. Read Jassiel's Story first. You need to leave a comment about how the story surprised you, made you think, caused connections, or changed your opinion about something. (Click on Student Story from the list on your left!)
2. You may choose between options A, B, C, or D.
For each assignment, you should read, watch, or think about the topics presented. Then you should prepare a reflection essay. For the essay plan form, click here. (You will need to scroll down to the plan forms in the Writing section. It should look like this: Paragraph Plan: Reflection Paragraph (used with Weekly Reader Assignment))
A. Read more about some key players during the Civil Rights Movement. You should be asking yourself, where are they now? What are they doing now? Are they the same? How have they changed?
D. Fighting Propaganda and reading Critically. ~How do you know this is a hate site? ~Stand Strong against Hate - see interactive map ~Where are hate groups today? See Map
After you read this story, think about this article. What myths about immigration do you believe?
"Go back to Mexico, Beaner! F*&* YOU!"
"Shut up, you racist!" Pancho just wanted to punch them in the face. He wished they didn't exist.
It was a sunny day in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pancho was playing soccer with his friends. Soccer helped him because he was sad; his mom had recently died in a car accident. His mom was going to work; she was just getting in her car when a tow truck with no brakes crashed into her car. He had to move to Texas because his dad had the swine flu; he was in the hospital and the doctors told him that he was too old. He had to stay there because he could die. The only family Pancho had in the U.S. lived in Texas.
After he moved to Texas, his family didn't want him to go to school until he finished grieving the deaths of his parents. They didn't want him to stop studying, so they contracted a private teacher.
After a year passed, he went back to school. On his way to his first day in school, he was happy because he thought that everybody in school was going to be less boring than being stuck at home with his teacher. He was hoping to find a friend. He walked into school and stood by the door looking for a friendly face, but instead of finding a friend, he found racism.
A guy named Ted pushed him; he whispered to him, "Go back to Mexico, Beaner."
Pancho was so mad that he wanted to beat him up.
In math class, Ted was in his class. He pushed him again. Class started; the teacher said, ''We have a new student. Please be nice to him."
Ted said, "I don't respect beaners!"
Everybody laughed.
Pancho asked Tom, the guy sitting next to him, "Where does Ted goes after school?"
Tom told him, "To the football fields. Why do you want to know?"
"I want to beat him up."
Tom asked, "Why?"
Pancho told him, "Because he pushed me."
Tom was Ted's friend, and he told Ted. Ted was so scared that he didn't want to go to go to the football fields that day. Ted went to the office the next day and told the principal about what Pancho said he was going to do to him, but he forgot to mention what he had done to Pancho.
The next day the principal talked with Pancho. Pancho told him what Ted did and how he felt. The principal said, "Okay, no problem. Ted does that with all Mexican students."
Pancho complained to the principal, "Okay, but if he says or does anything again, I'm going to tell you first." Pancho didn't want to get into trouble for fighting, but he wanted the principal to know what was going on. He expected the principal to like this plan. He was in for a surprise.
The principal told him, "Okay, but Ted does that with all Mexican students, and I don't think he's going to stop."
Pancho was so mad that he didn't want to go to school the next day, but his aunt told him to go. When he told her about Ted, she said, "Do NOT get into a fight. Don't get yourself into trouble."
Pancho said, "It makes me mad."
She replied, "If you fight, you will get into trouble whether you are right or wrong. Just ignore him."
When he walked into school, he felt Ted push him again. He told him, "Don't go tell the principal or I will punch you, Little Girl."
Pancho told the principal and the principal suspended Ted for three days. When he was in his way out, he saw Pancho and told him, "You're going to pay for this."
Pancho didn't respond; he wanted to wait until Ted returned to school. In three days Pancho knew that he would beat Ted up. He predicted that Ted would come back mad and wanting to fight. Pancho wasn't worried about the fight; he was worried about punching him too hard and injuring him. For the next three days, he enjoyed school without Ted.
When Ted came back to school, he punched Pancho in the hallway. The fight didn't even wait for the football fields. They fought and fought and fought and fought and fought. Both boys were tired, when Pancho finally punched Ted and he fell to the ground. Pancho's foot was a jackhammer, pummeling Ted's face. Ted's nose was broken and bloody. The blood was squirting from his face and eye.
Tom punched Pancho because he was Ted's friend and he wanted to help him. "Stop! Stop right now!" he yelled at Pancho, ripping at his shirt.
Tom's voice was like a punch. It made Pancho stop kicking and realize what had happened. He looked down and saw blood, so much blood. He thought he had killed Ted. A part of him was happy, but a bigger part was scared.
After two weeks they returned to school, Ted apologized to Pancho, and Pancho said nothing. Ted and Pancho learned that racism hurts everyone. While friendship ends racism, they would not be friends. But, fear can create respect. From that day on, there were no more fights and no more racist remarks.
Check out our National Hispanic Heritage Month Glogs! If you need inspiration to help your community, write history, create awareness, break stereotypes, create new expectations, or become a role model for others, take a look at these famous Hispanics from our past and present!
This year, the 8th grade students have studied ancient cultures from Mexico and South America. Our 6th and 7th graders have studied Hispanic leaders from our past and present. We've also read current events articles about the current state of Latinos in America. And, we've discussed the possibilities that exist in Jackson. A study of heroes is always interesting, but it isn't until we apply those same characteristics to ourselves and the people around us that we find inspiration and motivation. To only study heroes is to place success "out there". Our goal is to help our students recognize not only the powerful people who have paved the way, but the people, YOU - theirparents, who continue to show them the way. If we do that, we can help our students tap into their inner resources to insure they find their way.
Ourstudents would like to acknowledgement YOU:
Stefani:My mom is my role model because she is a hard worker.She’s awesome.
My dad raises my expectation of my future because he says that everyone can reach high goals – especially if you are Latino.
Nancy:My parents are my role models because they inspire me to study and be a good student.
Cinthya:My mom is my role model because she inspires me to not give up on my goals.
Francisco:My mom inspires me because she tells me, “Don’t give up!”
Zamantha:My parents are creating new expectations because they expect more of me.They don’t want me to get C’s, they want me to have all A’s.They encourage me to study for tests and not watch a lot of TV.My parents say, “Don’t give up!If you get good grades, you’ll get a good job!”
Marco:My mom is awesome.She broke down stereotypes by not dropping out of school.She went to college and became a hairdresser.After all these years, she bought a salon just across the street from K-mart.Her success inspires me.
Alex:My mom is my role model because she inspires me to help my sister on her homework and to help everyone.I feel proud when I help others.My dad inspires me to work hard and not goof off.
Danicia:My parents are my role models because they both have their own companies.They are the bosses.Instead of taking advantage of the fact they are the boss, they are not lazy, they wake up early and go to work just like their employees do.They inspire others.
Carlos:My dad is my role model because he shows me how to do construction.He doesn’t give up, so I won’t either.My mom helps our community by volunteering for the PTA.She makes our schools better.She sold pumpkins in the pumpkin sale.I’m proud of my parents.
Maria:My familty – in different ways – inspire me to not give up on my dreams.My brother is working and working hard in school.My sister tells me, “Don’t drop out, you’ll get a better job.You will be able to be a doctor or teacher.”My dad shares about his past and this makes me feel good about my life.He tells me, “Try to improve so you can learn more.”My mom tells me, “Look forward!” My family inspires because they believe in me.
Juan:Instead of being shy and not working, my mom is not a bit nervous.I have discovered that she wants to learn many things:English and cooking.She is a lifelong learner.My dad has been in Jackson for 11 years.He has two jobs, which is a big responsibility.He never gives up.He is smart and always active.They inspire me to be the same.
Yolanda:My dad helped the community when he was a police office in Mexico.He protects other people, which is why he is overprotective of me.I will always be his little girl – though it wouldn’t hurt if he realized I was 13 years old!My parents are my heroes.They make me feel better.When they encourage me, they make me feel like I am on top of the world.They once said, “Never give up.Always follow your dreams!No matter what, we will always be here for you.”I love them.
Ashley P:My dad helps our community by building homes in a lot of places. My dad works with many different people.He is fun and sometimes he buys us what we want.My mom is a role model because she shows me how to cook and encourages me to finish school.I want to finish high school and go to the University in Mexico.My parents believe in me.
Nidiyare:My mom and dad create new expectations because when they come to conferences, they expect a lot from me. They have high expectations for me all the time.My mom is my role model because she helps my family in everything, and she brings in money, so we live better.My dad is also my role model because he supports my family.
Alejandra:My mom is inspirational to me because she buys me new books at the book fair.I am proud of myself for reading Emako Blue.I discovered that some books are not boring and I now know that I want to read more books like that one.My mom supports me because she believes I am a reader and buys me books.Reading more will make my future brighter.
Adalid:My mom is my role model because she always tells me, “Do your best.”She also gives me advice.She believes in me and helps me to be a good student, so I can go to college.
Emmanuel:My mom and dad inspire me; they want me to graduate from college, so I can have a better and easier life than they did.They don’t want me to suffer like they did when they were children and even now when they try to find work.They want me to speak English, learn other languages, and work hard in school so that I can graduate and have a great job.
Yair:My mom and dad are my role models because they have high expectations about my grades.They give me prizes and rewards when I get good grades.They always tell me to do my best.They keep me motivated!
Janet:My parents are my role models because they are hard working.My mom inspires me to move forward.She reminds me to try hard and never give up.I did that this year in volleyball, and I succeeded.
Aridai:I am proud of my parents because they have worked hard to bring us to the USA and to keep moving forward.They have patience with us.My mom and dad care about us.They are good parents for my brothers, sisters, and me.I know it is hard for them to keep working so hard, but they have us to help them.I thank God for the wonderful parents he has given to me, for all he has given to me.
Jassiel:My friends inspire me because they are funny and make me laugh a lot.
Axel:I am breaking stereotypes by getting good grades!My mom and dad help the community by recycling.My parents inspire me by supporting my love of music.They buy me guitars and bases and amps.They help me a lot when I have a show.My mom says, “You can do it!” and my dad taught me how to sing.Thank you, Mom and Dad, for supporting me and introducing me to music.Music is my life.
It is important that we work together to avoid some of the unnerving statistics that face our children. Across our nation, 50% of Latino Students drop out of high school… However, Jackson is a special place. This statistic doesn’t have to be real here. There are resources - both human and financial - that can help make this true. But we also have to work together to be sure the resources aren't lost.
Yolanda and Juan's response to this article and its statistics:
Yolanda: "I never realized that so many Hispanics drop out, and the effect this has on their futures. I want to go to college and have success in my future. I now know that if you drop out of high school, you completely change your future. I want my parents to know that I can succeed. I want my mom to know that she is right; my education is very important. I would like to thank my parent for pushing me toward my future goals.
I discovered that this year I'm getting better grades. I know it is because English is getting easier, but I'm working harder. I can't believe it's my choice to decide what my grades - and my future - will be. I now want to focus on my education. I never realized I have that power.
When I learned that my brother was struggling in kindergarten, I decided I would read to him more. This will help him learn more and more. I discovered that my brother is confused by English and Spanish...it's not about what he is learning. I now know that I can and will help my brother succeed. I want to be a good example for my brother. I want a good future so that one day I'll be my brother's role model. I am going to go to college."
Juan: "I learned that if we want to have a college degree, we can because we live in an awesome town."Let's work together to make sure our kids get to choose their future.Let's work together to get them through high school and into college.We can do it, we just need to work together.
