NEW YORK–A day at the Facing History High School begins at the metal detector. No liquids and, yes, students get double checked if the gate alarm goes off. It’s a reminder that violence is still an issue for many of the city’s schools.
For seven years, since it opened its doors, Facing History High School has maintained a schoolwide curriculum that aims to reduce violence and bullying, while teaching students lessons beyond the requirements of the statewide Regents exam and the SAT.
“The idea of choosing to participate, being an up-stander not a bystander or a perpetrator, that’s the language for everything we do every day,” said Mark Otto, assistant principal at Facing History High School. “It’s a curriculum through all content areas and advisory that looks at perspectives.”
Otto described how teachers use historic examples to address bullying—not only as an issue in schools, but throughout society. For example, when talking about the Holocaust, students are shown how tragedies ensue when bystanders choose not to act when witnessing violence.
“We could just say those were bad people. The Germans were bad and that’s why they did it. But there are average citizens of Germany who made bad choices,” Otto said.
Facing History High School is one of a few schools in the city that runs an advisory program. Groups of 15 students meet for 40 minutes four days a week. This format allows a teacher to create an ongoing conversation with students.
When a speaker comes to the school, the advisory classes use the time in advance of the speech to research the background of the speaker and prepare questions. They meet again after the speech to discuss what each has learned. Each year the school welcomes six to eight speakers.
Mojo Up
On Tuesday, one such speaker, Travis Brown, or as he refers to himself, Mr. Mojo, gave a speech as part of his nationwide anti-bullying tour. Brown calls it Mojo Up, a talk that helps both victims and bystanders realize their power when bullying takes place.
“You have the power to help people and you have the power to hurt people every single day, simply by the things that you say,” Brown said to the students.
Brown motivates students to stand up for victims of bullying. Sometimes, Brown said, it’s as simple as saying “Hey, that’s not right.” Taking action when witnessing bullying is just part of the message–Brown also does his best to motivate his listeners to take charge of their lives.
