Peacebuilding at McCallum HS

As I walked up to McCallum HS today for our SOY visit, I saw these wonderful murals painted on the side of one of their buildings. Each represents nonviolent social change makers -- exactly what we promote at our table! 

This represents the "Capitol Crawl" action on March 12, 1990 when disability rights activists literally crawled up the steps of the nation's capitol to demonstrate how inaccessability affected their lives.  This nonviolent direct action played a strong role in the ADA being passed soon after.

McCallum students were great -- very thoughtful in their responses to the reflection question, with their decisions in the Penny Poll, in telling us about ways in which they have used their First Amendment freedoms recently, pondering the people and events on the Peace Wheel, and in letting us know what they are thinking of doing after they graduate. One student said that her father is a rabbi at a local synagogue and there was a service with hundreds in attendance to mourn and remember those killed in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. She said that gathering peaceably at that service was using First Amendment freedoms. Another student told us that one of his mother's friends co-authored the children's book, "Grandfather Gandhi" along with Gandhi's grandson. Another student told us that by being an out gay man, he is expressing his First Amendment freedoms.  One 16 year-old student said that he is working on behalf of a candidate for the mid-term elections and had been politically active since he was 14 years old.  We value all the astute comments from students today.

The Penny Poll results showed the highest priority for Health Care with 29% of the vote, followed by Education at 22%, the Environment at 18%, Humanitarian Aid at 13%, 10% for NASA and 8% for the Military.
Here are the student responses to the reflection question, "The student-led #MarchForOurLives movement is trying to stop gun violence in our communities and schools. What about the gun violence of war? Are there similar ways to stop the spread of war?"

-"One of the ways to prevent war is to vote and elect officials who are willing to communicate nonviolently with other nations."
-"This is a different issue, where it's not regulating who can own weapons but rather beginning conflicts with other countries."
-"Many ways -- one is to pay for third world countries to stop civil war."
-"Perhaps the best way to combat violence is to avoid it altogether. What we need is a commander-in-chief whose goal is peace and containing violence overseas."
-"I think that protesting in an effort to stop war can work. It wasn't 100% effective when it was present in the 50's/60's, but I think looking there is certainly a good place to start."
-"Diplomatic accords that benefit both parties equally is the best way to ensure peace and cooperation and is the best road to success."
-"Pay attention on who you give guns to."
-"War is often started by disagreements or truce breaking which leads to gun violence. It's possible to stop but difficult."
-"We can foster internationalism to become better connected."
-"I believe that there are other ways to solve political problems on Earth, and on the other hand there is a possible way to change the spread of war."
-"I think political leaders often start wars too quickly without trying other solutions first. Lots of people get killed in wars that start from small things that could have been solved without killing."
-"Restrict who gets guns."
-"Gun reform laws."
-"Stricter background checks when selling guns."

Thanks to McCallum Knights for participating today!

It was moving to see this ofrenda in the hallway along with information about the cultural tradition of Dia de los Muertos

Nice to know about this club

SOY tabling at Bowie HS

 I heard a radio story on the morning of October 16 before we headed off to staff our SOY table at Bowie HS -- about that date being the 50th anniversary of the Black Power salute by Olympians, Tommie Smith and John Carlos. Their visual, nonviolent protest was a signal of unified resistance to the many forms of white power, privilege and brutality faced by persons of color in the US in 1968. The peace sign and raised fist of unity are symbols we combine on our SOY t-shirts, and we were happy to see so many students earn themselves a shirt today at Bowie. Our reflection questions garnered thoughtful responses from students, as well.

Here are a few of their responses to the question, "The student-led #MarchForOurLives movement is trying to stop gun violence in our communities and schools. What about the gun violence of war? Are there similar ways to stop the spread of war?":

"I think we should see people as people."
"I would say that peaceful protesting similar to March for Our Lives would be a good one since it shows that people care."
"Gun violence in war should limit certain types of guns because they do more harm than good. Only certain guns should be allowed for use."
"People should voice their opinions! Start a conversation."
"Less military funding across the world."
"Spread peace and come together."
"Advocate for gun violence prevention."
"War is a necessary part of life unfortunately. We can limit this by being more aware of which wars we're inadvertantly funding."

And some of the responses to the question, "What are some ways that you and your friends are being good to the planet?":

"Recently, I've started volunteering for a retirement home and planting a garden."
"By not littering and being positive."
"Me and my mom plant vegetables and we reuse water bottles."
"We deliver Meals on Wheels to people in need."
"My brother and I go on walks picking up trash in the park."
"I'm a bee keeper."

Penny Poll results showed equal priority for Education and Health Care, each with 22% of the penny vote, followed by the Environment with 20%, Humanitarian Aid with 15% and NASA and the Military each with 10.5%. As always, if students could decide how our country's financial resources were allocated, we would have education and health care needs met, the planet would be better cared for, and military spending would be curbed.

Special thanks to Cat for joining us, and thanks to all Bowie Bulldogs for participating!

Here are a few more of the many student responses to the reflection questions:

Gandhi's Birthday at Austin HS

The hallway becomes suddenly quiet after a busy and engaging lunch hour

It felt good to be with Hart and Tami today at our SOY table at Austin HS on Gandhi's Birthday. Students were eager to do the t-shirt challenge, and we had about 30 students earn themselves a shirt during the lunch period. They offered their ideas for how to "Be the Change They Want to See in the World" and the most common sentiment expressed was to be kind. 

A few of the many student responses

When we asked students how they have recently used their First Amendment freedoms, quite a few mentioned that they had taken part in the student walkout and "March for Our Lives" protest last year following the Parkland school shootings.  Students also said that they speak up and share their views during classes and in discussions with friends.  One student said that he writes for the school newspaper and plans to study journalism in college.  Gender equality was mentioned a number of times as being an important point of discussion at Austin HS, and we had noted in a recent Austin American-Statesman article that the homecoming court at Austin HS was going for 'royalty' rather than 'kings' or 'queens' as a way to express equality for gay or lesbian homecoming candidates.    

With midterm elections coming up and some students becoming eligible to vote, we heard that there have been voter registrars at the school, which was good news. 

Penny Poll results showed Education getting the highest priority at 27% of the budget, followed by Health Care at 23%, the Environment at 20%, 16% for the Military, 7% for Humanitarian Aid and 7% for NASA.

Thanks to all Maroons for participating today!

some of our materials

buttons at the table