Sunday, February 14, 1999
Students try to 'Erase the Hate'
Twenhofel School embraces diversity
BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
INDEPENDENCE — There's so much fighting and name calling at Twenhofel Middle School that Shana Leeke and Devin Larkins decided to work on changing the atmosphere.
The eighth-grade students signed their names to an “Erase the Hate” banner this week, pledging support of a hate-free school and community.
During the 1997-98 school year, two middle school students were suspended for harassment or discrimination; 10 were suspended for physical assault; and four were suspended for terroristic threatening.
“I really want to see the hate in the school stop,” Shana said. “I think this will help.”
Devin called his school a “hate community” and said he was tired of it being that way. “This banner could help some, but probably not much. We need a lot more help.”
Signing the banner is part of a monthlong calendar aimed at teaching students tolerance and what they can do to fight racism. The Kenton County School District purchased the banners, bookmarks that list 10 ways to respect others and red ribbons for each school as a way to recognize Black History Month.
At Twenhofel Middle, cultural diversity teacher Ina Everman plans to develop such programs throughout the year. Every student in the school will take her class before moving up to Simon Kenton High
School. And her students are the ones taking the banners from class to class, encouraging their peers to sign.
“We're hoping with this class and these activities that we'll be able to nip some of the problems in the bud” before the students get to the high school, Mrs. Everman said.
Last year at Simon Kenton High School, six students were suspended for harassment or discrimination; 10 were suspended for malicious remarks; three for physical assaults; and one for terroristic threatening.
Mrs. Everman said she tries to make students interested in learning about other cultures and seeing the positive side to differences. There are only a handful of minority students at Twenhofel, and much of what students are learning is completely new.
Many students are receptive to the new ideas. Eighth-grader Ben Morris said he likes seeing the school do something different. Robin Perkins said learning how to say “hello” in various languages is opening her eyes to how many ways there are to communicate.
And Patricia Lovelace said Mrs. Everman's teachings about the people of Japan and India and people of different religions is giving her insight into cultures she knew little about.
“We've even talked about Ellis Island and all of the history that's there,” Patricia said.
Public schools are one of the best places to teach diversity, according to the Center on Education Policy. A new report from the Washington, D.C., group states that students encounter more racial, ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity in schools than ever before.
The report found:
• In 1997, 35 percent of children under 18 were from minority groups. By 2020 this proportion is expected to increase to 45 percent.
• Twenty percent of children in school are immigrants or have parents who have been immigrants.
• The United States is becoming more religiously diverse, with Islam the fastest-growing religion in the nation.
Mrs. Everman's cultural diversity students educate their peers by broadcasting 30-second profiles on foreign countries during the school's morning news program and decorating the school with bulletin boards about cultures and customs.
Tim Moore, district program coordinator, said the Erase the Hate campaign is an effort to increase respect and communication among students and staff.
“The demographics in the county have changed so much in the past five years,” Mr. Moore said. “Some schools thought they had no problems. We're trying to raise awareness.”
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