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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 01 February 2008 SUBJECT: St. Croix Lawyer Presents Diversity Training to Good Hope's Middle School
Today the Good Hope's Middle School students participated in a diversity workshop led by Legal Counsel for the Virgin Island 's Economic Development Association, Mrs. Stacey Plaskett. Mrs. Plaskett trained approximately 75 students in grades six through eight on diversity. The session explored diversity's purpose, and benefits in the school environment and larger community. The workshop was initiated by Head of School, Michael Mongeau and Director of Lower and Middle School, Raquel Cedano as a way to increase awareness and further the sense of importance diversity brings to The Good Hope School. The Good Hope School student body reflects St. Croix with 41% Black (not Hispanic), 27% White, 15% Hispanic, 10% multiracial, 4% Arabic, and 3% other. A founding vision of the school is to provide a multicultural, multiracial learning environment committed to high academic standards. "Diversity is a key component of educating our students to be global citizens," remarked Cedano. The workshop led the students to identify their own reasons that diversity in race, culture, religion, and physical differences benefits their own growth. At one point, Plaskett challenged the students to imagine what school would be like if all the students were just like themselves. Many shared experiences reinforcing the positive aspects of the diversity found on St. Croix . A visual aide of a ladder was used, with the bottom wrung being Speech, moving to Avoidance, Physical Attacks, and finally Ethnic Cleansing. The Holocaust was used as an example of how prejudice can begin with, what appears to be harmless assaults of negative speech towards various groups of people. Students placed their own experiences on the ladder and were able to see the significance of promoting an environment that celebrates differences. "I am excited about helping Good Hope develop and implement diversity training for its student body. Good Hope does an amazing job to create a diverse, welcoming and inclusive family. Their actions - being proactive and giving their faculty and students the tools necessary to be sensitive to issues of diversity are to be commended. The school is truly preparing their students to be productive members of the community of this island and the larger global world in which we live," commented Plaskett. Mrs. Stacey Plaskett received her undergraduate degree in History and Diplomacy from Georgetown University 's School of Foreign Service , and Juris Doctorate Degree from American University . She has spearheaded diversity and other training in the public and private sector; most notably heading up the US Department of Justice's national diversity study and training program, developing private school diversity training, and developing training on harassment in the workplace. |
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