John Dewey, along with many other schools across the city, has organized Respect for All Week (RFA) to take place from February 10-14. The program Respect for All was launched in 2007 by the NYCDOE to encourage inclusion and diversity in schools for students and staff. Wednesday in Respect for All Week focuses on the respect of diversity, disability, religious acceptance, and racial diversity, all of which are really important in a school that’s so diverse.
Encouraging teachers, students, and staff on accepting one another has a big importance as it helps others understand each other better by having different perspectives and makes school overall have a more welcoming and inclusive environment, allowing students to feel safe. The Respect for All program launched in 2007 by the NYCDOE had the intention to encourage community inclusion and respect for diversity. During this week, classes will encourage this by including theme-based lessons and activities with the following themes and days, Monday: Celebrating kindness/being an ally, Tuesday: anti-bullying/cyber bullying, Wednesday: respect for diversity, disability, religious acceptance and racial diversity, Thursday: gender identity, sexual orientation, LGBTQ pride and acceptance, and Friday: national no one eats alone day.
“Throughout the week there’s a focus on specific subjects each day for their own spotlight. It’s a springboard for the rest of the year to follow.” said Assistant Principal Ms. Frias.
In Respect for All Week, it encourages students to treat each other with kindness and respect with certain main subjects that are the topic of that day. But this is something that Ms. Frias tries to encourage everyone to continue throughout the year as it’s important to be kind and respectful at all times and not just on this specific week. Ms. Frias when asked how this could go further encouraged outside of just Respect for All Week. She stated English classes, clubs, SEL events, after school programs, and students in humanities could help encourage respect with activities and lessons on these subjects.
With these activities helping to get the message out to treat each other with respect and kindness it will help students see why it’s so important to respect one another as it promotes a welcoming environment. Respect for all week “is just a starting point to remind students to embrace diversity going into the year” said Assistant Principal Ms. Frias and it demonstrates to new students such as freshmen, how we should treat others. She also added that “John Dewey is one of the most diverse schools in NYC.”
With Dewey being one of the most diverse schools in NYC, it’s important that all cultures have representation and respect. As Ms. Frias has said before, after-school programs and clubs are good places for this, she has stated these activities can represent the different cultures, religious beliefs, and overall diversity of Dewey. She concluded, saying “We are the world here at Dewey.”
