Teachers at my school observe students daily that seek to celebrate their uniqueness in our small community. Many have come from broken homes and tragic circumstances while others hail from privileged neighborhoods. My high school students have aspirations for their future but, because they are striving forth sometimes with distinct visions and dreams, they are unsure of their paths. The smallness of our town doesn't allow for a broad vision of what is out in the world for them to accomplish or achieve especially with over half of our students coming from impoverished homes.
Bono said, "To be one, to be united, is a great thing, but to respect the right to be different is perhaps even greater." High school life can sometimes be the place where students determine their worth based on what is around them.
My goal as a teacher is to develop relationships that foster individuality and self-awareness. Celebrating, showcasing, and valuing diversity is an important aspect of this. As their teacher, I hope to demonstrate that our uniqueness is something to be cherished and respected.
My Project
As we live through the current trying and difficult times, our students need ways to understand the importance of tolerance and acceptance. As young high school students, lessons that incorporate both fiction and non-fiction can help introduce and give examples that they can understand and emulate.
Many of my freshmen students are not aware of the Holocaust or the significance of the hate and fear that led to this time in history.
This novel, "The Boy In the Striped Pajamas" by John Boyne, introduces the subject using a 9-year-old narrator. By creating lessons with this novel, I hope to build connections, initiate discussions, and influence additional research on the Holocaust which, in turn, will create an understanding of humanity and the fragility of our democracy.
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