Teacher Facilitation Guide

Program Overview
Tolerance is a research-based project curriculum that focuses on the importance of tolerance. Students view video interview segments featuring three successful famous spokesmen for tolerance, President Jimmy Carter, Mayor Willie Brown, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel. These interviews serve as a springboard for students' own research and project development. A list of online resources is provided to support student research.

Viewing/Facilitation Strategies

Introduce the tolerance topic and view video segments. Ask students to share examples of their current knowledge, experiences, and questions related tolerance and discrimination.
View the video segments as a class, in small groups, or individually.
Facilitate student selection of at least one of the research projects listed below.

Research Project Overview

Student Academic Standards

Students understand the importance of working well together with diverse individuals in diverse settings.
Students understand that group and cultural influences contribute to human development, identity, and behavior.
Students understand conflict, cooperation, and interdependence among individuals, groups, and institutions.
Students understand the role of diversity in American life and the importance of shared values, political beliefs, and civic beliefs in an increasingly diverse American society.
Students know how to gather and use information for research purposes.
Students understand how to make multimedia presentations using text, images, and sound.

Projects and Investigations:

Tolerance and respect between people is built on understanding and empathy. President Jimmy Carter questions whether that can happen when we "build a plastic bubble around ourselves so we only have to associate with people just like us." Go to the Gallery of Public Service and view President Carter's entire interview. Consider his comments as you select from the following research projects.

Research national and local efforts to increase tolerance and understanding between diverse groups of people. Identify the variety of ways people are trying to break down the plastic bubble that keeps people isolated and intolerant. Develop a top ten list of effective strategies to break down fear and misunderstanding and increase tolerance. Use your information to develop a design and content outline for an End Intolerance public relations campaign and web site.
The term "hate crime" has been used to describe acts of discrimination and violence aimed at people who are perceived as different. A recent example was the murder of Mathew Shepard in Wyoming. People who perpetrate hate crimes have an "us" against "them" attitude. They live in the plastic bubble that President Carter describes. Research various national and local instances of hate crimes. Select one incident on which to focus with more depth. Use your information to develop a one-act play that dramatically explores this hate crime, its causes, and the way it compelled people to work toward increased tolerance.

San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown grew up the object of racial discrimination. The fact that he overcame the barriers of intolerance is a credit to his belief in himself and his desire to achieve. He states that now he does not "carry residual displeasures towards any race of people. I think the experience that I had there made me a more tolerant person that I ordinarily would have been."

Review the video clip and the go to the Gallery of Public Service and experience the entire interview. Select a research project below that relates to your interests in discrimination and tolerance.

The way we use language is a mirror of our tolerant and intolerant attitudes. What are examples of words and phrases used to discriminate, diminish, and keep people at a distance? What are examples of words and phrases that show tolerance and respect? Gather examples through online research and by listening to those around you at school and in your community. Use your information to create two dramatic dialogues: one that shows intolerance and one that shows tolerance and understanding between people.
Issues that relate to discrimination and hate crimes appear regularly in the national and local news. Historically we can look at the Civil Rights Movement among others to find examples of both intolerance and heroic efforts to promote an end to discrimination. But the stories go on. Conduct research to identify ten current examples of tolerance issues in the news. Use your information to create a multimedia special edition newspaper that presents these stories and issues. Make sure one story is from you own regional area. Include an editorial about what steps could be taken to increase tolerance in the community.

Author and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Elie Wiesel, was a victim of Nazi persecution during the Holocaust. Today he believes that "no group should be superior to another in American Society." Review the research projects below keeping in mind how a belief in equality and tolerance go hand-in-hand.

Research the treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II. How did the Interment Camp program isolate and deprive Japanese Americans of their rights and property as American citizens? How could such intolerance for American citizens happen? Could it happen again with other groups of people? Use your research to develop a multimedia case study of one Japanese American family during their period of interment.
Brainstorm a list of ways that young people and citizens in your community can increase respect and understanding between different ethnic groups. Consider activities like film series, festivals, teach-in events, and more. Research the different community groups that exist in your area that are working toward increased respect and tolerance for everyone. Interview staff members from these organizations. Volunteer if possible. Gather information about their organization's mission and activities. Use your information to develop a poster series that highlights local efforts and tolerance-building events.
In the aftermath of September 11th, with violent conflict in the Middle East and the war against terrorism in full swing, citizens must confront their own fears and biases that can lead to intolerance and discriminatory treatment of innocent individuals. Consider the kind of questions that you can ask yourself and others to uncover your own intolerance and bias. Work with a small group to develop a survey of ten questions about bias. Conduct your survey with two different age groups. Use the information to develop a comparative report on tolerance and bias in your community.

Page: 1