PlatFORUM 2016 Set for March 3
A long-standing Upper School tradition returns next week when we spend Thursday, March 3 building community and engaging in educational workshops. Formerly called Diversity Day, the program was re-named PlatFORUM last year to better reflect the spirit of the day.
The overall goals for the day are straightforward:
- promote self-reflection
- share experiences of culture & tradition
- provide language and tools to engage in conversations around social justice, equity, and access
- gain understanding of contemporary issues
- build community and have fun!
More than a dozen teachers from all divisions, along with a dedicated group of students have been working on the planning of this exciting program and will also be instrumental in carrying out the plan on March 3. Attendance is required for all students, as PlatFORUM will last the entire school day. The theme this year is “Speak Your Truth.”
Sample workshop titles include “Am I Seriously the Only Girl Here?”, led by science teacher Holley McBroom and senior Maryam Husain, in which the issue of the gender gap in areas of science, engineering and technology are explored; “Walking the Line Between Discomfort and Unsafe: Race on The College Campus,” where senior Samah Mohamed and social studies teacher Luis Terrazas will examine recent conflicts at colleges and universities nationwide; and “Why Does Hate Exist? An Exploration of Hate from the Nazis to the KKK to Isis,” as led by Head of School Mike Davis. There are many more amazing offerings. Students select two workshops from the lengthy menu.
Both student-led and teacher-led workshops, all of which have been vetted by administrators and the organizing teachers, will be interspersed with activities designed to foster better understanding of both cultural difference and similarity.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me, your grade-level dean, or Adrian Green, Director of Inclusivity. I look forward to a great day on March 3.
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