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Why Workshops are Important
The Respect For All ProjectThe Respect For All Project (RFAP) seeks to create safe, hate-free schools and communities. A program of GroundSpark, RFAP provides youth and the adults who guide their development the tools they need to engage in age-appropriate discussions about human difference, preventing prejudice and building caring communities. |
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To improve learning
Educators agree that:
- Students must be healthy in order to learn.
- Students must feel safe and respected in order to learn.
The Respect For All Project seeks to increase adults' knowledge of differences so that they may, in turn, increase students' learning about and respect for differences of all kinds.
To foster respect
According to Educational Leadership magazine, building a sense of community in schools is important because:
- Studies show that promoting civility and respect for differences is crucial to preventing violence.
- Violence-prevention efforts must begin in early childhood years and continue for students of all ages.
To foster health and safety
According to a 2002 survey by the Families and Work Institute:
- Two-thirds of young people said they were teased at least once per month.
- Nearly half of young people experienced physical violence at least once a month.
- Almost 10 percent of young people said they were attacked with a weapon or coerced sexually at least once a month.
Other studies show high risk among gay youth of truancy or dropping out of school1; drug or alcohol abuse2; sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV3; homelessness4; and suicide or attempted suicide.5
To observe legal and curricular mandates
California, Washington and a handful of other states have been at the forefront of the movement to create safe schools. According to the state of California:
- All students have an inalienable right to a safe educational environment. Cal. Const. art I, § 28(c).
- Schools have an affirmative obligation to combat bias and discrimination, and to develop policies, curriculum and training programs to promote diversity, and reduce discrimination and hate violence. Educ. Code §§ 201, 233.
- Schools must teach about contemporary issues. Educ. Code § 51210, 51220.
For more information on California law
Letter from California State Senator Sheila Kuehl discussing AB 537 (pdf)
School Safety & Violence Prevention for LGBT Students: A Q&A Guide for California School Officials and Administrators (pdf)
Q&A Guide on California's Parental Opt-Out Statutes (pdf)
1 Pediatrics Journal
2 US Department of Health and Human Services
3 US Department of Justice
4 Massachusetts and Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Surveys
5 Studies of homeless youth in Seattle and Los Angeles