Standing Up Against Discrimination

Lesson Plan Felicia Bond

“Standing Up Against Discrimination “

Essential Question

Why do people discriminate?

Goals and Rationale

Humans naturally and necessarily evaluate people and situations based on their beliefs and life experiences. It is much more comfortable to deal with people who share my language, national origin, culture, etc. because I know with some confidence what are their values and how they will respond. The more you are like me, the more I know what to expect from you. Learning what to expect from others takes work and risk on my part.

It is unsafe to assume how someone whose culture I do not know will respond to a gesture, a joke, etc. What is welcome in one culture may be offensive in another, so it is reasonable and necessary for me to very cautious around people who are unlike me until I know and understand them. I must not treat all people the same. I hug my kids, punch my male cousin in the shoulder, and shake hands with coworkers...

For many, the unknowns are too big or too uncomfortable so they stay in their own tight-knit circle and shun those too unlike themselves. Most of us, to one degree or another, try to learn how to relate to people with different values or cultures. Some are hurt by some of these attempts and so develop a fear or dislike of whatever group has caused the hurt.

Some, of course, are taught from an early age that all whites, Gypsies, Jews, etc. are evil and untrustworthy, and what your culture teaches you growing up is very hard to un-learn.

The word "discriminate" gets a bad wrap in some ways. We all make distinctions between people that are "discriminate." When we choose a babysitter is he too young? Too crude? Apparently trustworthy? I will loan my car to a friend, but not a stranger - that is discrimination. The honest question is: which kinds of discrimination are unacceptable.

High school grounds can be the site of bullying and violent behavior between students. At the root of many...