Today was one of my favorite days of the school year: The ADL Youth Congress!!
As well as a middle school teacher, I also wear a couple of "advisor" hats. Many people think teachers partake in these activities for extra money, although these people are CLEARLY not in education. If you are, you know that the money from these "extras" ends up being peanuts by the time the work is done! That being said, I love being the ADL Peer Leaders and being their advisor. Today I was lucky enough, along with two co-advisors, to bring 21 middle school students to the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Castle, for ADL's one hundredth year of service. The Anti Defamation League spreads awareness and education, working towards equality for all. Out of the 21 students we brought, three of them were facilitating a lesson to a group of students at today's event; therefore we needed to report at the hotel QUITE early. Which translated to.... I needed to board the bus at 6:20 :( I made it sucessfully, and the early wake up call was well worth it.
ADL, as usual, had many speakers and presentors. Today we were lucky enough to listen to Ernest Green from the orgial Little Rock Nine. In fact, my students were lucky enough to grab a photo! Both Green and senator, Joe Kennedy, encouraged students to make the change, and that you are never to young to start something. To embrace our ever changing society because we are the generation that will have the most time with all issues at hand, such as marriage equality, education and technology; and lastly to share your thoughts via to larger crowd by utilizing social media. Ernest Green actually encouraged the 1,000 students present to "live tweet" his entire speech! My students of course jumped on the opportunity to use their phone without being rude! The words of both Kennedy and Green rang through my head as the day; what can I do to make the change I'd like to see?
As the least political person on the planet (or one of them), the question is almost intimidating! But I was inspired, motivated and determined to take some sort of action by the end of the day. Below is the trailer for today's event:
Today was one of my favorite days of the school year: The ADL Youth Congress!!
As well as a middle school teacher, I also wear a couple of "advisor" hats. Many people think teachers partake in these activities for extra money, although these people are CLEARLY not in education. If you are, you know that the money from these "extras" ends up being peanuts by the time the work is done! That being said, I love being the ADL Peer Leaders and being their advisor. Today I was lucky enough, along with two co-advisors, to bring 21 middle school students to the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Castle, for ADL's one hundredth year of service. The Anti Defamation League spreads awareness and education, working towards equality for all. Out of the 21 students we brought, three of them were facilitating a lesson to a group of students at today's event; therefore we needed to report at the hotel QUITE early. Which translated to.... I needed to board the bus at 6:20 :( I made it sucessfully, and the early wake up call was well worth it.
ADL, as usual, had many speakers and presentors. Today we were lucky enough to listen to Ernest Green from the orgial Little Rock Nine. In fact, my students were lucky enough to grab a photo! Both Green and senator, Joe Kennedy, encouraged students to make the change, and that you are never to young to start something. To embrace our ever changing society because we are the generation that will have the most time with all issues at hand, such as marriage equality, education and technology; and lastly to share your thoughts via to larger crowd by utilizing social media. Ernest Green actually encouraged the 1,000 students present to "live tweet" his entire speech! My students of course jumped on the opportunity to use their phone without being rude! The words of both Kennedy and Green rang through my head as the day; what can I do to make the change I'd like to see?
As the least political person on the planet (or one of them), the question is almost intimidating! But I was inspired, motivated and determined to take some sort of action by the end of the day. ADL's trailer for today's event
Question fo the day: What would you do to change the world you live in( big or small)?
I spend my day with hundred of students. I want them to feel safe in their learning environment, but also comfortable in their own skin. This is quite the feat for a middle schooler developmentally, but with bullying, teasing and torturing on the rise, it is important to me.
Sites that may interest you:
ADl's Site
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