Church of Our Saviour

No Place for Hate in Milton Schools

Commentary by Diane D’Souza
Milton Times—June 23, 2005

I recently witnessed a powerful investment in our future.

Students who will enter Pierce Middle School this fall received a unique orientation to their new school. These soon-to-be sixth-graders participated in a theater workshop project sponsored by the No Place for Hate Committee in collaboration with the Milton Public Schools. The workshops provided a high-energy, realistic and fun way to get young people thinking about the opportunities and challenges of being members of a very diverse student body. They were designed and led by Urban Improv, an interactive drama initiative of the Boston-based Freelance Players. School Principal John Phelan welcomed the 100 or so children and their teachers with the seasoned skill of a leader who knows how to keep active young people attentive. He took over again at the conclusion of the event to help students review what they learned.

The hour-long program (which was held twice to accommodate all of the students) involved song, activities and Urban Improv’s strength improvised theatre. The five-member team of Toby Dewey, Merle Perkins, Kevin Smith, Ron Jones and Faith Soloway played out familiar school situations while sitting and moving among the students, inviting and winning their input and participation. I was struck by the insightfulness of these 11 and 12-year olds as they analyzed what was going on in situations of active, but sometimes covet prejudice. Students were able to name some of the feelings and forces which keep people from standing up or speaking out on such occasions. They also had opportunities to examine how to respond when a group is having fun at another person’s expense or when stereotypes are used to justify the way things are. The Urban Improv team brought the kids right into these moments, drawing on children’s suggestions and actions to shed positive light on what we can do.

In one skit, the actors helped create the familiar lunchroom: the black kids sitting in one group; the white kids sitting in another. Two students who were friends before coming to this new school have drifted apart, each “hanging” with kids of their own race. We watch the scene unfold, with news of an upcoming concert causing one friend to miss her former best friend. She considers the possibility of inviting her to sit with her new crowd, shaking up existing race divisions. As the actors and students continue to improvise, I am struck by the tremendous courage being played out before me. Here is a student standing up against belittling comments from her peers, stepping away from old patterns of prejudice to create new possibilities.

We’ll never hear about this kind of heroism on the six o’clock news. But today I saw my town investing in tomorrow’s heroes. I saw our future leaders receiving practical encouragement in creatively strengthening the ideal of “respect for all”. I wish my own generation had had the same opportunity. Bravo! Milton Public Schools and its collaborators—Milton No Place for Hate, the Milton Interfaith Clergy Association and the Anti-Defamation League—for sponsoring a program which makes a difference.

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The Church of Our Saviour is handicapped accessible.

453 Adams Street (617-698-4757)
at the corner of Adams & Babcock Streets – near East Milton Square
The Rev. George H. Welles, Jr., Rector (508-580-8312)
Ms. Roseanna Fernandes, Director of Music & Education Coordinator
Mr. William Keyes, Sexton