Chaperone_Comments

Chaperones add your comments about the Word Up! Word Out! training:


 * I considered the Word Up Word Out training a success when:**
 * ALL kids participated in activities, especially the closing one. Our facilitator was upbeat and encouraging and also didn’t let people sit out, but didn’t “force” them either. 2.) I heard positive feedback on the bus and at school about how it had gone: “fun” “interesting.”
 * The students in the class begin to be honest with each other and communicate, relate about themselves honestly. I think there future success will be seen in how students in Kent County interact with each other in the future.
 * All diversities realized that struggles exist in every race, religion, gender.
 * Students rated the day positively. When they responded thoughtfully to questions. When they critically evaluated the culture of their school.
 * The students interacted in conversation with each other at the end of the day.
 * Students posted societal insults and then had to listen to them.
 * The students participated freely in the stereotyping activity.
 * At lunch the students mingled with each other from different schools and were able to find something in common to discuss.
 * When we returned to school and a number of students asked me what we could do to change ourselves to be more accepting and understanding.


 * What I liked most about the Word Up Word Out curriculum was:**
 * That it made the point that everyone experiences stereotyping and prejudices – “isms” – although some people have had to deal with more than others. It allowed us to look at how it feels when we are stereotyped rather than make us defended because we were being blamed. I would hope that this would lead us to look at if/when we do this to others = self awareness.
 * I like giving students time to discuss their own school’s culture and what they can do to change it.
 * The stereo type wall example
 * The mental models. I could tell that this made students uncomfortable, a significant feeling in the change process.
 * Getting a variety of schools together with 9th grade students to share sensitive topics.
 * Identifying the common stereotypes and recognizing they weren’t accurate.
 * That it was experiential.
 * The times students spoke freely with participants from the other schools.
 * I liked how open the students felt to ask questions and how they were able to discuss their feelings after completing the “stereo types” activity.
 * Shattering stereotypes


 * Share a student learning experience that you observed:**
 * I thought the expressed apology by the facilitator to the groups was very effective. The kids took it seriously and it helped them see that what had been said or done to them was hurtful and that an apology can make one feel understood and respected. Some laughter occurs when they hear the stereotypes – this may be a point where it could be discussed why we do this: discomfort?? we think it IS funny because of how tv sitcoms, radio shows, magazines, etc. poke fun at others and stereotype.
 * I think students learned more about assumptions and how we stereotype each other; it seemed that this made a big impact on them.
 * I was pleased that students said that they would recommend the training to friends.
 * A very large and over weight student felt comfortable talking about his image.
 * A student choosing to NOT share her final “I am” statement after listening to others. It marked a seed of cultural sensitivity.
 * At the beginning, I witnessed students from other schools making faces toward each other. That ended throughout the training.
 * The students were hurt with some of the names that were associated with their “group(s)”, which in turn, I think, made them realize how bad words can indeed hurt, and how one cannot judge someone else just because of what they look like.
 * Overall, I admired how the students appeared to feel very comfortable in being able to share their experiences and ask questions. I overheard students in the hall talking to their friends and stating that they were nervous to come because they thought it would be uncomfortable and then stated they were having fun and were learning a lot about new people. Students were able to ask openly about different life experiences comfortably.
 * Students shared with me that they understand how important it is not to stereotype anyone.