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The Jewish Community Center of Metro Detroit
Proudly Presents a Fund Raising Event:
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COMING To TERMS from page 14
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SCULPTURE EXHIBIT AND SALE
Featuring the works of Award Winning Sculptor
JERRY SOBLE
At His Studio
Jennifer Rosenwasser: "Teachers have to create a safe atmosphere."
introducing themselves into the class-
room," he said. "If they can't talk
about these issues in school, where can
they talk about them?"
Weisserman, who has been teaching
for nine years, likes to begin each class
by asking, "Does anyone have anything
intelligent to say?" That's a technique
he learned from Bernie Goldstein, his
former teacher at Harrison High
School in Farmington Hills.
Several of Weisserman's students were
interviewed on local television after
April's Columbine High School shoot-
ings in Littleton, Colo. He quoted one
girl who said she'd been "`a real jerk in
the cafeteria to kids I didn't even know.'
"She asked how that was any different
from what happened in Columbine."
Such ideas may seem like platitudes
to adults — "but it's not platitudes to
them," he said. "Kids have to come up
with it themselves for it to have mean-
ing for them."
Several days of concentrated school
activities helped Berkley High School
\-, students cope after the Columbine
incident, said communications super-
visor Gwen Ahearn.
A television presentation was pre-
pared from student discussions.
In Southfield Public Schools, which
has a high degree of diversity, high
school students attend annual commu-
nications retreats at Camp Maas in
Ortonville. Its an Outward Bound-
type experience. Kids have to reach out
beyond their comfort zones," said Ken
Stiver, the district's information director.
"At the end of the three days, it's
quite emotional," he said. "They see
the humanness of people they would
have otherwise avoided, not only
because of religious or ethnic differ-
ences, but also because they may
have dismissed them as troublemak-
ers or nerds.
When incidents such as the Los
Angeles shootings occur, the issues are
woven into classroom discussions in
Southfield, Stiver added.
"Since this is a well-integrated
school district that also has a sizable
foreign-born population, we empha-
size how kids can learn from people
who have different experiences from
them," he said.
The district's middle school celebra-
tion of the Martin Luther King Jr.
holiday in January encompassed not
only the issue of racism, but also prej-
udice in general.
Among the students' multimedia
reports, displayed at Tel-Twelve Mall in
Southfield, was one on the history and
beliefs of the Ku Klux Klan.
Complaints from patrons forced the
mall to remove this specific exhibit.
"The kids are more open to these
topics than society at large," Stiver said.
In Farmington Public Schools,
Superintendent C. Robert Maxfield
said he strongly encourages classroom
discussions of violence and hatred.
"The only concern we have is when
people don't talk about it," he said.
The district works closely with the
Farmington/Farmington Hills Multi-
Racial Multi-Cultural Council and,
last year, adopted a new Religion in
Schools policy.
"In the process of implementing
that, we talked to teachers but not sup-
port personnel," Maxfield said. "A mom
called and said her son was really dis-
turbed by the Christmas decorations on
the school bus. Now we've extended
training to the entire staff." i
A delightful way to enjoy the day.
All art displayed on the grounds
of the Artist's Studio, located on
Upper Straits Lake. Bring your
children & grandchildren for
their viewing of intriguing art
and creative sculpture made from
bronze, stainless steel, glass,
aluminum and stained glass.
• DON'T MISS THIS SHOW •
Today, Tomorrow & Sunday
August 27, 28 & 29 • 12 Noon - 5:00 p.m.
Artist's Studio is located at 3819 LaPlaya, Orchard Lake, MI.
Orchard Lake Road to Pontiac Trail go West 1/2 Mile to Light
at Old Orchard Trail. Go Right 2 Miles to LaPlaya
Call 248-683-4364
All Proceeds Payable to J.C.C.
S/27
199'
Detroit Jewish NeWS
17