"Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: - 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'
Martin Luther King Jr., Speech at Civil Rights March on Washington, 1963
What students say:
“It could be a great idea to have all kinds of races in a classroom, or maybe you could make more fieldtrips to museums to learn about others. Our school would be different by seeing what other people do in their culture.”
-Fabiola
“But when I see a world where White and Black, Hispanics can be friends, I see this school where no one gets bullied over a racism issue. So I know that if more kids from different groups will be boundary crossers and every kids would be able to walk outside of their group.”
-Jazmin
“If I help the people, when I need help they could help me, so we can be friends and we need to try to have good friendships with people of other cultures. The last thing we could do to bring people together, is to talk right and be honest with each other.”
-Vianey
“The way that we could promote better understanding about racism and diversity is talking with the whole community about their problems. You should get a good education about other countries on how to share stuff.”
-Daniel
“My plan to bring people together is to send some American to Mexico to show them that Mexicans are not bad people. Also to show them that Mexicans also live poorly there like in America. I would also show them that people in Mexico suffer a lot there but Mexico is poorer than America.”
-Gabriela
“This year and next year I want to accomplish by getting good grades. Why, because if I don’t get good grades I would not be able to pass the next grade or I won’t be able to finish school. Another accomplishment I want to do is finish school, get a good work and get a good life. Because so I could be able to help my mom how she helped me."
-Perla
"It was fun. I got a lot of stuff out. We didn't have to hold back. You could say whatever you want."R.C.
"You learn more about other people. You get to do something different."T.H.
"We were always talking about different things. You could say anything. It was cool when we got to go to the Making Peace Campaign and sign." E.C.
"I like that lady. You got to express your feelings and why you felt that way. If there was something you didn't like about what someone did, you could talk it out instead of fighting. We talked about racism and could privately talk with Mary Jane. I think she should be all over the place."M.R.
"It was a time to talk about what's going on in the community. Racism still exists. I think it's important to find out what others think so that maybe something can change."K.D.
"Study Circles explain how the world is, what's going on in it, and what we can do to make it better. It made me realize what's going on and see how it affects the lives of young children and myself growing up."C.G.
"Study Circles is seeing other viewpoints and trying to relate to how other people see things. Racism affects people, and people don't know that unless they've been through it. You've got to get to little racism problems so that they don't build up to big ones. If you talk about racism with children when they're little and how to respect people of all colors, you have a better chance that they'll grow up to make a difference in their community."S.V.
What students want:
“All girls to be friends instead of being mean” Emily
“Hi nice to meet you” “Nice to meet you too” Jalen
"No bad words because it can hurt someone else feelings, Go Wildcats” Janeth
"Everyone should have a friend" Anonymous
"I want that people do not fight because they can hurt someone really bad.” Maria
"If I could change something in school is that it would be space between the lockers."- Cristiana
"I would change racism because my friends are mostly white and they don’t like the fact that I hang out with other color people. I don’t think it’s right because it doesn’t matter what color you are as long as you are human." Amber
"I would change the bathrooms, it is going to be with doors in the future” Alejandro
"Help the community” Hugo
"Boys and girls sitting together” Vanessa
"I will like to change people misunderstanding people” Shanese
"I want everybody to get along” Tony
"I will change other people to be respectful when the teachers are talking wait quietly or read." Karina
"We shouldn’t be split into groups” Anonymous
"I want to see an ocean that is not polluted” Angelica
"Let animals run free. Let nature be what it wants” anonymous
"I want people to hang out outside and don’t watch TV that much” Alex
"I’m drawing the state without people killed or kidnapped, and let their kids go other places. People would do a lot more stuff." Samantha
"NO VIOLENCE!!” Marquell
"If I could change our school I would want it to be perfect!" Kathy
"I don’t want anymore garbage in the world” Jessica
"I want my future to be like...I want it to start off in my career in dancing. Teaching little kids how to dance good.” Mercedes
“Non-dress code change, just have at least one day of the week to wear anything we want. So that we can look nice and have a good time.” Shyann
"I would like to change the dress code because I want to wear different colors." Esmeralda
"I want to change the community” Sonia
"Making a better school, Sharing is caring” Gac
"No writing in the bathrooms and no stereotyping” Katerin
"I would change people’s personalities, the way people act and teachers being racist” Anonymous
"The Future of the non-dress code: What I want the school to change would be to let the students wear whatever we want to or at least have a day in each month that you get to wear whatever all the students want to wear." Jahayra
"I want to change the passing period time and the size of the school. If you have to go to the bathroom and go get your stuff out of your locker you might be late to class. So passing periods should be 5 minutes."
"Now everyone can be friends" Valerie
"Being HAPPY and get along with each other, be friends." Sulayma
"Everyone gets along" Alexis
"More time for lunch" Estefania
"People of all races CAN talk” Erin
"If I would change our school I would make it a better place for the students and teachers." Annayeli
"Eveyone is happy, don’t drink alcohol and drug, be good to have more friends." Mairam
"No gangs, no war, Free candy” Zack
"No Racism!"- Joseph
"I think that this school would be a better place if everybody could wear their own clothes to school. That way we could all be individuals. Because we are all different people and show it. It would also be better if everyone could get along with each other that way no one wouldn’t get in trouble that much” Anonymous
