Understanding the Impacts of Discrimination and Bullying

Students at Menomonee Falls High School considered the effects of stereotyping and discrimination when they attended an assembly Tuesday about hate crimes, tolerance and bullying. 

“This assembly puts this topic out in the open and provides a vehicle to talk.  We hope it empowers kids that are getting bullied to seek help,” said teacher and SMORES (Students Mindful of Respect and Equality in School) club advisor Meg Whaley.

The presentation, hosted by ARCh (Association for the Rights of Citizens with handicaps), a non-profit organization from Waukesha, included a showing of the film “Journey to a Hate Free Millenium.”  This film explores the Columbine shootings, the dragging death of James Byrd Jr, and the Matthew Shepard murder.

Jennifer Horth, the Executive Director of ARCh also talked to the students to bring their attention to more recent hate crimes that people aren’t as aware of.

“The video is certainly very powerful, but it highlights things that happened a long time ago in other places.  We try to make it more local and relevant,” said Horth.

She mentioned Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, an 11-year-old boy who hanged himself after enduring bullying at school. 

Junior Destiny Davis said his story made an impact on her.

“My little sister is 11 years old just like that boy.  It’s scary because it can happen to anyone,” said Davis.

“We want to make students aware that they have a choice about how they treat people every day.  What they see doesn’t have to be that way.  They can change their life and school,” said Horth.

The presentation tried to help students understand that bullying and harassing can hurt people profoundly. 

“We would like the students to be more tolerant of each other, and to understand that just one little word will have a big effect on someone else,” Whaley said.

Some ways that people can treat others with respect include: not repeating rumors, not slamming others against lockers, not using intimidation, and standing up for people they see getting bullied.

Mix-it-Up Lunch

To try to take this message of tolerance and respect and put it into application, students at MFHS are participated in a "Mix-it-Up Lunch" on Thursday.

This is a simple call to action: SMORES is encouraged students to sit at different lunch tables than usual.  By taking this risk, the students removed barriers and improved communication between different groups to create an inclusive and welcoming community.

Students are planned to sit according to birth month, and engaged in an icebreaker activity to meet new people at their table.

Presentations to improve our communities

ARCh offers presentations like this one to schools, colleges, church groups and companies who are looking to educate themselves about tolerance. 

There will be a presentation for the community at MFHS at 7 p.m. March 29. It will include a showing of the film, “Journey to a Hate Free Millenium” and a powerpoint presentation by ARCh.