San Mateo County Times, CA
Jan 14 2007

Class takes a look at evil

Burlingame students study genocides around world in pilot course
By T.S. Mills-Faraudo, STAFF WRITER
Article Last Updated: 01/14/2007 02:45:07 AM PST

BURLINGAME – Burlingame High School senior Semachantal Chabo, a
first-generation American, has grown up hearing about the atrocities
her Armenian culture faced throughout history.
Through a pilot Burlingame High School class that’s cropping up in
schools across the country, she hopes to learn about genocide in
other countries.

The Facing History in Ourselves class, which started its second
semester last week, examines the Holocaust and other instances of
genocide and why these events occurred. The program teaches kids how
to combat racism and stereotypes, discuss critical issues, increase
awareness of choices and opportunities, and prepare students to be
responsible citizens.

"I would like other people to know that there was genocide and
cruelty in the world," Chabo, 17, said.

Teacher Michelle Riley, who brought the program to Burlingame, said
the class allows her to teach certain historical events more
extensively than she would in other history classes. This semester,
her students will study the Holocaust as well as the genocides in
Sudan, Armenia and Rwanda.

Students in the class, she said, will learn that before the Nazis
took over Germany, it was a flourishing democratic society.

"They’ll find out just how delicate democracy can be," she said.

But she also will teach the students how they can improve society and
prevent racism.

"I think they’ll come away feeling empowered," she said. "They’ll
learn how to talk about racism, because it can be such an awkward
thing to talk about."

During the first few days of the class last week, Riley asked the
students to create "identity boxes." They were asked to find a box
and decorate the outside with things that represent howthey think
others see them and the inside with items that represent how they
view themselves.

The goal of the lesson, Riley said, is to teach them how identities
are developed and how people get branded.

On the outside of senior Adam Chickman’s shoe box were pictures of
himself in different Halloween costumes: Buzz Lightyear, Silent Bob
and a pimp.

His reasoning: "The theme of my box is, I’m like an onion, we all
have many different layers," the 18-year-old said.

But the inside, an interpretation of how he views himself, was
entirely different.

He drew a picture of a Jewish star for his faith and a broken heart
because, he said, he has been hurt.

But he also pasted a picture of lemons and drew a pitcher of
lemonade.

"I did this because my life motto is: Life hands you lemons, make
lemonade," he said.

Chickman said he took the class because he wanted to know more about
the bad things that have happened in history and get a better
understanding of racism.

"I’m fascinated with why people hate other people when they don’t
even know them," he said.

Burlingame junior Camille Crandall, 16, used a CD case for her box.
On the outside she pasted a picture of herself with her hair and
make-up done and the word "flirt" cut out from a magazine. But she
also put scratches all over the case.

"I did this because this only scratches the surface of who I really
am," the cheerleader said.

On the inside of the case, she pasted a photo of herself wearing
sweats with a goofy smile.

"I think this photo is who I really am, just kind of goofy," she
said.

Many students said they feel there’s still a lot of racism in society
and at their school.

"Being brought up in Burlingame, I think we’re in a bubble and we
don’t interact with a lot of different cultures," senior Rejine
Romingquet, 17, said.

To start this class, Riley said she had to go through two weeks of
training paid for by a scholarship from the Facing History in
Ourselves Organization.

Based out of Brookline, Mass., the national organization provides
professional development for teachers to offer this curriculum in
their schools.

In addition to the training, the organization loans teachers the
books and videos for the class, leaving little, if any, costs for
school districts.

Throughout the class, Riley said students will participate in debates
and discussions, watch films, listen to recordings, view propaganda,
see works of art and hear from guest speakers.

"I just hope they become better citizens," she said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress