Press Release

Partners Against Hate Press Conference National Press Club, Washington, D.C.

April 4, 2001

Every student has a right to feel safe and welcomed in his or her school and community. This is a foundational concept for learning. That is why National Middle School Association believes the Partners Against Hate project is so important and so timely. This unique program will help parents and educators work with young adolescents to break down cultural barriers and address bias—key factors in feeling unsafe and unwelcome. It will support all of us as we work together to address youth-initiated hate crimes.

We must remember that hate crimes, violence and harassment are not school problems. Rather, they are societal and community problems that require a collaborative approach by many people to solve. All of us have a stake in helping young adolescents navigate these critical transitional years securely and safely. Partners Against Hate provides many options for developing and maintaining safe, welcoming environments within the school, at home, and in the community. This is an approach that will work.

Two issues must be addressed within a school, family, and community. And they must be addressed consistently. First are the attitudes that draw people to gather around a potential fight, to think that harassment is cool, to encourage escalation of conflict. Second, all teachers, parents, and youth leaders must understand and truly believe that hate violence prevention programs are essential in reducing hate and prejudice. The starting point to wiping out hate is developing an understanding of the value of diversity.

We must also define "diversity" realistically. Many say it deals with race, ethnicity, religions, or language. It does. But for a young adolescent, it can also mean much more. Look inside a typical middle school classroom, and the definition has to include gender, physical maturity, family background, learning style, appearance, and other factors. These distinctive qualities make each student unique and worthy of respect. But each characteristic also can draw negative attention from peers who have not learned to appreciate diversity.

There is no place for name-calling, stereotyping, or bullying in our schools, families or communities. Unchecked, ignorance can grow into intolerance, harden into hatred, and explode into violence. We have seen this far too frequently in recent years.

It's especially appropriate to focus attention on young adolescents. Developmentally, they are at an age when, with careful guidance, they can recognize discrimination, apathy, and hate violence potential in themselves and others. They can learn positive alternatives to those behaviors. They can learn to respect other human beings. Working together, we can make a difference in the lives of young adolescents. And this work will last a lifetime.

National Middle School Association (NMSA) is the nation's largest education association focusing on young adolescents, youngsters from 10 to 15. With a membership of more than 29,000, NMSA represents teachers, administrators, parents and others dealing with young adolescents. It provides professional development, publications, and initiated October's Month of the Young Adolescent.