So…why is it so difficult to talk about sexual identity?
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OPENING:
Stereotypes & Prejudices Video - CLICK HERE!
Stereotypes- Who We Are

BEFORE THE SECOND SEGMENT:
Gay- what an Elementary thing to say

BEFORE THE THIRD SEGMENT:
Straightlaced: How Gender's Got Us All Tied Up - Trailer

PLAYING IN THE RECEPTION AREA AS FOLKS ARE LEAVING THE GYM AT THE END
"It Gets Better" (Broadway sings for the Trevor Project)

About R & R Day
R&R 2010-2011 Wooster has held an annual R&R Day for five years; we suspend regular classes to focus our collective attention on deepening our understanding of a diversity issue. Students spend the day exploring the respect and reflection required to address various elements of diversity with sensitivity, empathy, and sophistication. Students and faculty have wrestled with the following ideas in the last five years:  2006 – What does it mean to be “other”?  2007 – socio-economic diversity  2008 – stereotypes, bullying  2009 – gender  2010 – Why is it so hard to talk about race? Part of Wooster’s mission is to honor diversity in all its dimensions as essential to the nature of the institution and to the student’s experience in it. Clearly, the experience of all students at Wooster should always be a safe one. Thus, part of the planning for the day includes creating a safe space within and around us. The next R&R day, November 10, 2010, will focus on sexual identity. Discussion of diversity frequently engenders discomfort and in some arenas, incivility. Lack of knowledge, along with fear, can often engender discrimination. Lack of integrity and accountability for the intellectual rigor and honesty brought to these challenging issues is often at the root of the degradation of our civil discourse that we increasingly witness. Good educators know that we don’t learn if we stay in our comfort zones and do not communicate effectively and fairly – what better way to grow than to identify an uncomfortable spot AND be provided with a safe place to learn? The goal of the day will be to build understanding, communication, and respect, whatever the perspective that participants bring to the topic. So…why is it so difficult to talk about sexual identity? Perhaps because the answer to this question can make one feel included, excluded, or isolated from family, friends, and/or religious affiliation. This issue touches on many sensitive and closely held personal beliefs. The sense of isolation that individuals who struggle often feel can lead to a fragile self esteem that can exist even when no one other than the individual knows the answer to the question. This answer may also leave young people believing they must choose to be true to themselves at the cost of the acceptance and love of those they are closest to. This belief often leaves teenagers feeling rejected, isolated, depressed, and questioning their self worth. Similarly, those individuals who struggle to relate to differences in sexual identity can find it difficult to address this topic without feeling judged, dismissed, or threatened. Honesty on all sides is required. We need only read the news in recent months to confirm this. Respect and Reflection Day 2010-11 will focus on educating students and parents about the various elements of sexual identity, how to develop empathy, how to respect differences in others, how to communicate effectively and how to make Wooster an even stronger community. Since this is a sensitive subject, The Multicultural and Diversity club and the Gay Straight Alliance will be working with the True Colors organization, and others who are well versed in this area to plan the day’s activities and discussions. True Colors is a national organization whose mission is… to support a world where youth, adults and families of all sexual orientations and gender identities are valued and affirmed. [They] challenge all forms of oppression through education, training, advocacy, youth leadership development, mentoring and direct services to youth and those responsible for their well-being. If you would like to help us, or know someone who can help us, please email Director of Diversity Karen Rolfini-Beckenstein at karen.rolfini-beckenstein@woosterschool.org. Here is an outline of the day’s agenda; please note that this is a regular day of school, with attendance expected. Thanks! 7:55 – 8:40 Warm-Up Exercises, Alumni Gym 8:50 – 9:40 Assembly in MSCR – stand-up activity, discussion, Video 9:40 – 9:50 BREAK 9:50 – 10:40 Small-Group Discussions: Definitions, Tell me about a time when… 10:40 – 10:50 BREAK 10:50 – 11:40 Small-Group Discussions: LGBT Experience, Definitions Activity 11:40 – 11:50 BREAK 11:50 – 12:45 Small-Group Discussions: Let’s Talk about Gender; How to become an Ally.

So…why is it so difficult to talk about sexual identity?

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OPENING:

Stereotypes & Prejudices Video - CLICK HERE!

Stereotypes- Who We Are

BEFORE THE SECOND SEGMENT:

Gay- what an Elementary thing to say

BEFORE THE THIRD SEGMENT:

Straightlaced: How Gender's Got Us All Tied Up - Trailer

PLAYING IN THE RECEPTION AREA AS FOLKS ARE LEAVING THE GYM AT THE END

"It Gets Better" (Broadway sings for the Trevor Project)

About R & R Day

R&R 2010-2011
Wooster has held an annual R&R Day for five years; we suspend regular classes to focus our collective attention on deepening our understanding of a diversity issue. Students spend the day exploring the respect and reflection required to address various elements of diversity with sensitivity, empathy, and sophistication. Students and faculty have wrestled with the following ideas in the last five years:
 2006 – What does it mean to be “other”?
 2007 – socio-economic diversity
 2008 – stereotypes, bullying
 2009 – gender
 2010 – Why is it so hard to talk about race?

Part of Wooster’s mission is to honor diversity in all its dimensions as essential to the nature of the institution and to the student’s experience in it. Clearly, the experience of all students at Wooster should always be a safe one. Thus, part of the planning for the day includes creating a safe space within and around us. The next R&R day, November 10, 2010, will focus on sexual identity.
Discussion of diversity frequently engenders discomfort and in some arenas, incivility. Lack of knowledge, along with fear, can often engender discrimination. Lack of integrity and accountability for the intellectual rigor and honesty brought to these challenging issues is often at the root of the degradation of our civil discourse that we increasingly witness. Good educators know that we don’t learn if we stay in our comfort zones and do not communicate effectively and fairly – what better way to grow than to identify an uncomfortable spot AND be provided with a safe place to learn? The goal of the day will be to build understanding, communication, and respect, whatever the perspective that participants bring to the topic.
So…why is it so difficult to talk about sexual identity?
Perhaps because the answer to this question can make one feel included, excluded, or isolated from family, friends, and/or religious affiliation. This issue touches on many sensitive and closely held personal beliefs. The sense of isolation that individuals who struggle often feel can lead to a fragile self esteem that can exist even when no one other than the individual knows the answer to the question. This answer may also leave young people believing they must choose to be true to themselves at the cost of the acceptance and love of those they are closest to. This belief often leaves teenagers feeling rejected, isolated, depressed, and questioning their self worth. Similarly, those individuals who struggle to relate to differences in sexual identity can find it difficult to address this topic without feeling judged, dismissed, or threatened. Honesty on all sides is required. We need only read the news in recent months to confirm this.
Respect and Reflection Day 2010-11 will focus on educating students and parents about the various elements of sexual identity, how to develop empathy, how to respect differences in others, how to communicate effectively and how to make Wooster an even stronger community. Since this is a sensitive subject, The Multicultural and Diversity club and the Gay Straight Alliance will be working with the True Colors organization, and others who are well versed in this area to plan the day’s activities and discussions.
True Colors is a national organization whose mission is… to support a world where youth, adults and families of all sexual orientations and gender identities are valued and affirmed. [They] challenge all forms of oppression through education, training, advocacy, youth leadership development, mentoring and direct services to youth and those responsible for their well-being.
If you would like to help us, or know someone who can help us, please email Director of Diversity Karen Rolfini-Beckenstein at karen.rolfini-beckenstein@woosterschool.org.
Here is an outline of the day’s agenda; please note that this is a regular day of school, with attendance expected. Thanks!
7:55 – 8:40 Warm-Up Exercises, Alumni Gym
8:50 – 9:40 Assembly in MSCR – stand-up activity, discussion, Video
9:40 – 9:50 BREAK
9:50 – 10:40 Small-Group Discussions: Definitions, Tell me about a time when…
10:40 – 10:50 BREAK
10:50 – 11:40 Small-Group Discussions: LGBT Experience, Definitions Activity
11:40 – 11:50 BREAK
11:50 – 12:45 Small-Group Discussions: Let’s Talk about Gender; How to become an Ally.