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Reminder Assistant Editor WEST SPRINGFIELD "Diversity is not just a label" . it is a word that encompasses alternative ways of life that should be celebrated, taught and embraced by all, according to the Human Rights Alliance (HRA) at the Lower Pioneer Valley Career and Technical Education Center (Career TEC). Beginning in the 2007 - 08 school year, approximately 40 students, faculty and staff members of varying socio-economic classes, genders, sexual preferences, ethnicities and vocations at Career TEC came together as one group in an effort to promote tolerance and diversity within their school's environment. "Some schools have a gay-straight alliance but we didn't want to focus on just one group. We wanted to focus on people typically bullied or harassed," Darlene Marcoux, R.N., B.S.N., co-chair of the HRA and Career TEC's Diversity Officer, explained. "Nationally there has been [an increasing trend of] school violence, bullying or harassing and we wanted to change our social climate." John Michaels, co-chair of HRA and Career TEC's guidance and placement coordinator, noted that the formation of this group was not in response to any specific incidences of intolerance, but as a way to take a "proactive rather than reactive" approach to maintaining the school's tolerant social environment. Since its inception this all-volunteer group has met for several seminars and sponsored a series of assemblies for the entire Career TEC population. Each of the four assemblies has featured speakers sharing their own experiences as victims of social prejudice. The latest assembly, which took place last week, featured John Robison, the author of "Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's," who spoke about his efforts to overcome the disease, according to Zachary Chartier, a 10th grade student at Career TEC who attended the assembly. Chartier said as a young man diagnosed with Asperger's, he was able to better relate to the speaker who provided other students valuable insight into his struggles with social ineptness. He explained that his condition makes it very difficult for him to communicate, focus and understand his peer's facial expressions. Chartier explained, however, that despite his disease the positive social climate at Career TEC has embraced him. "They treat me just like any normal kid because I feel like any normal kid," he said. "I believe that they are nice to me and understand what is going on with me." Marcoux explained that the objective is not only for students to embrace each other's disabilities but also embrace those in "non-traditional vocations." "Students [at Career TEC] can enjoy employment freedom and opportunity," she said. "We don't want students to feel that they are mainstreamed into a gender specific role." Marcoux explained that while some students in HRA might not be those of an ethnic or religious minority, some members are "challenged" in other ways, such as those in a non-traditional vocation "a girl in auto [automotive technology] or a boy in cosmetology." She added that students who are not a part of any minority joined the group as "allies." "We are a melting pot . we need to focus on commonalities rather than differences of one another," she said, adding that she hopes the social skills students learn at Career TEC will continue throughout their lives. Michaels noted that students and faculty involved in HRA are also gaining a greater understanding of the school's social climate. "They will learn and develop a greater understanding of what these students face and broker a higher level of tolerance among their students," he said. Marcoux explained that the progress made by the HRA during the 2007 - 08 school year is just the beginning for the group, adding that more assemblies and HRA seminars will be conducted next year. "This is an initiation of people who are dedicated to change the social climate of our school," she said. "To support all students but especially to empower students to feel equal regardless of skin color, sexual preference, vocational choices or disability. The Career TEC Human Rights Alliance feels that education is not only what is learned academically or vocationally but how we support one another on a daily basis. To develop those life skills will not only benefit our school environment but will also help our students to establish and succeed in their future goals." |
