This month we watched a powerful DVD about diversity. Below is a detailed description from HRM, the producers of this video:
Walk This Way
Each video in Walk This Way: Exploring Tolerance,
Diversity and Difference features three young people relating personal stories
about discrimination and intolerance. In their own words, they share their struggles
to overcome challenges and learn more about kindness and understanding.
Each story is framed by colorful animation and a poetic
story about peace, hate and the universal power of difference.
Part 1
We are introduced to Massimo, a young person with a
bi-racial background. He talks about the importance of diversity in the world
and the value of his own unique identity. Massimo’s mother also shares a story
about neighborhood kids and their reaction to Massimo’s skin tone.
Next we meet Jessica, a young girl with an adopted
African-American brother named Alexis. Jessica explains that Alexis is her
brother in every way, even though they are not related by blood. She talks
about the doubts of others who believe that a family is limited to people who
are physically related.
In the final story, we meet Carl, a 9-year-old diagnosed
with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Carl shares his feelings of sadness and
frustration as he describes the way other students teased him. After he is
diagnosed with ADD, Carl is treated medically and makes great improvements at
school.
Part 2
In the first segment, we meet twins Matthew and Justin.
Justin has cerebral palsy. He gets a lot of special care from his family
members. Matthew explains that Justin can communicate with smiles, not words.
Justin feels pain and joy like everyone else.
In the next story, we are introduced to Melissa, a young
girl who lost her hearing as a baby. Melissa has learned to communicate through
sign language, although she still faces challenges. She shares her insecurities
about meeting hearing people, while her sister talks about the challenges of
living with someone who is deaf.
In the third segment, we meet Yanili, a girl who moved to
America from a Spanish-speaking nation. Since she couldn’t speak English,
Yanili had a hard time making friends. Then Patricia, a girl who moved from
Mexico, introduced herself to Yanili and began teaching her English. Both girls
talk about the importance of friendship and the ability to learn new things.
Part 3
First we hear the story of Alice, whose grandmother was
raised in China during a time when men controlled everything. Alice explains
her shocked and angry reactions to the stories told by her grandmother. She
admires her grandmother’s triumph over sexism, even as she sees examples of the
same problem in her own life.
In the second story, we meet Anthony, a boy who is teased
because of his clothing. With the support of his grandmother, Anthony learns to
respect himself for who he is, not for the clothes he wears.
Finally we are introduced to Nicole, an 11-year-old girl
who describes her reaction to a hate crime in her
town. After seeing “KKK” painted on a nearby house, she
realizes that racism exists almost everywhere, even
in a town that seems peaceful and happy.
HRM ©
Walk This Way: Exploring Tolerance, Diversity and
Difference covers a wide range of social and emotional issues. To ensure
that students are not overwhelmed by the material, each subject area has been
carefully designed to create a clear, lasting impression. Through a mixture of
individual reflection, classroom discussion and creative activity, students
will gain a better understanding of the character traits necessary for a
caring, tolerant society.
While using Walk This Way: Exploring Tolerance, Diversity
and Difference, students will:
• explore social problems such as racism, sexism and
stereotyping.
• learn to recognize descrimination, prejudiced attitudes
and the unfair treatment of others.
• understand the responsibility of all people to work toward
a society of tolerance.
• investigate strong feelings such as fear, sadness, anger,
joy and love.
• practice positive ways to deal with difficult people and
situations.
• learn how to strengthen their self-image and build good
character traits.
• discover their own biases and unhealthy behaviors.
• gain perspective on the importance of good character over
looks, money, popularity, etc.
• develop healthy judgement skills and problem-solving
techniques.
• recognize the importance of respecting diversity.
• understand how differences can enrich our lives.
• develop pride and respect for their families.
• understand the potential of all people, including those
with disabilities.
• develop healthy communication methods.
• recognize the value of friendship.
• relate the lessons to situations in their own lives.
HRM ©
