Creating Quilts of Kindness
In anticipation of its No Place for Hate® designation, the Middle School had its students create symbols of their respect and acceptance for one another
The eighth-grade quilt hangs in the eighth-grade hallway of Building 14 (Math/Science Building).
On October 27, Anti-Defamation League (ADL) representative Claudia Rodriguez visited the Middle School once again. However, unlike her past visits where she conducted training for students to promote respect for individual and group differences while challenging prejudice, bigotry, and bullying, this time Rodriguez had a special assignment for students. To commemorate the fact that Benjamin’s Middle School was to be designated as a No Place for Hate®, students were asked beforehand to collect inspirational quotes and photos of themselves and each other participating in daily activities which demonstrated their commitment to diversity, openness, and community.
According to the ADL’s website, the No Place for Hate® initiative “was developed to organize schools to work together and develop projects that enhance the appreciation of diversity and foster harmony amongst diverse groups.”
As a result, each grade level – sixth, seventh, and eighth – had its own assembly where the students were split into small groups and placed their photos and quotes onto squares of felt. Each grade level then had their squares connected by pipe cleaners to make “quilts” that are now on display throughout the Middle School.
Left to right: sixth graders Teresa Tuong, Spencer Cohen, and Sydney Steinger display their finished felt piece.
“I had a great time making the quilt, and it really brought my group together, and we got to know each other better,” said seventh grader Cade Odom. “I had fun during the assembly, and I liked how we made a quilt out of all of the words that we wrote,” added sixth grader Spencer Cohen.
Not only did the students enjoy the creative process of making the quilts, but they seemed to understand the message the activity symbolized. “I liked the fact that we came together and made this quilt, because it really resembles our School, like it is just one big family,” commented seventh grader Erik Bernhardt.
The ADL is the nation’s premier civil rights/human relations agency. Founded in 1913, the organization fights anti-semitism and all different forms of bigotry while buildings bridges of communication, understanding, and respect amongst diverse groups.
Benjamin’s Middle School received its No Place for Hate® designation on Monday, November 9 during its morning assembly (click here for the full story). Head of School Mr. Robert Goldberg, Assistant Head of School for Academics Mr. Kendall Didsbury, and Head of Middle School Mr. Charles Hagy were on hand for the presentation led by Rodriguez.
