Washington students learn about tolerance, respect

By GUY PRIEL

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Students at Washington Elementary School, with the help of a grant, spent some time recently learning about tolerance and respect for other people and their ideas, in an attempt to make school a better place.

The students signed up to write a script based on what they perceived as the idea behind a certain Dr. Suess book and developed their skit around that theme.

Seven students from the Students First participated in the project. A human rights grant helped the school buy four copies of Horton Hears A Who, the Sneetches, and the Lorax to use for the project.

"The teacher read the book to the students first and then asked for input on what they perceived the message to be," Washington Counselor and Students First Coordinator Joan Wisniewski said. "Everyone got a different message from the book, which helped make the project interesting."

After the students performed the skits at each grade level, they were asked questions regarding how they felt about the situation, if they experienced those problems at Washington, and what lesson was learned from the skit.

The fourth grade skit, based on Horton Hears A Who, revolved around students being picked on by older students in a school setting. The idea behind the skit was to teach that everyone has rights and should be tolerated, regardless of their grade level or size.

The fifth grade skit, based on The Sneetches, revolved around students being left out of activities at the skating rink because they were different somehow. The idea behind the skit is that different people are great and still deserve respect, because they are still people.

The sixth grade skit, based on The Lorax, revolved around students who put down each other's ideas and cut them down by calling their ideas stupid. The idea behind the skit is that students should learn to accept people and their ideas, because when their ideas are put down, they are being attacked as a person.

The idea came from a magazine Lambrecht had, and the project developed from that. The grant amount was $227.40. Students involved were Erin Dwyer, Laura Ullery, Katie Wendinger, Jarrod Wiggins, Joe Babel, Sarah Kamm, and Jon Turner.

"We are trying to create a safe and friendly environment between students and staff at Washington School," the grant application says. The application was written by students.

As part of the project, the students developed a noise and behavior index for the school, based on how people treat each other and how noisy they are in the hall.

Students First involves 52 students and it functions much like a student council at middle school and high school. The students conduct surveys, develop fun activity days, and gather opinions about how they make their school and community better and safer, Wisniewski said.

In order to become a part of the program, students fill out an application, attend an interview, and state what they would like to see changed at school.

There is an advisory board of 28 students and a council of 24, representing each grade level, with one student from each class. They have developed posters, school-wide projects, conducted fund-raisers for the playground equipment, developed after-school clubs, winter fitness fun day, developed spirit banners, and conducted a book sale to buy new games and books for the library.

"They will also help serve at the volunteer breakfast, and will be active in promoting National Turn Off the TV Week," Wisniewski said.

They greet other students at the door before school starts and have developed a newspaper to help keep students, parents and staff updated on events, she said.

"The program is good because it helps keep them involved," she said. "It is good for students to have a voice in school activities."