Human Rights: Making a Difference By KAREN D’AMOUR, MASCA President-elect
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KAREN D’AMOUR
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oday I decided to focus my attention on positive signs of human rights, diversity, and tolerance in action in my high school. The school day started with an announcement by the Diversity Alliance inviting new members to join and encouraging students to read the signs about diversity that have been posted around the school. After school the Peer Leaders (seniors who have been selected by the
faculty for their positive leadership skills) held a collection site for school supplies for children in the Sudan. These examples showed that students at our high school are thinking about themselves and how they treat others. Other schools, I am sure, are taking similar steps. All in all, we do seem to be making progress with these issues in our schools. For many of us, however, it may not be fast enough. That is why we should acknowledge the efforts of those who make it a priority. MASCA is doing just that. We have formed a Human Rights Committee, and we have established a MASCA Human Rights Award, which will be presented annually at the MASCA fall conference. The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual who has sponsored or delivered outstanding human rights projects or activities. At this year’s fall conference, Sally Masters, a counselor at Hampshire Regional High School, received the award. Sally is an individual who leads by example and actively engages in activities that promote human rights for everyone. Those of us who attended the conference had the pleasure of hearing her speak about her involvements, and we learned from her example. Personally, I took from her comments the need to go back to my high school and check to make sure our written forms used inclusionary language. Fostering diversity creates opportunities for personal growth. Today’s student speaks in terms of wanting to make a difference. He or she taps into the core values of respect, compassion, and empathy. During a weekend in October, The Boston Globe had a pullout section titled, “Diversity Boston.” It was a wonderful read, and I learned a number of things. Did you know that Portuguese is the second language of Massachusetts and that 28% of Boston is Black and 14%, Latino? Another aspect of this section that I found exciting was the job advertising. All of it spoke the language of diversity. Positive change is happening. We see excellent role models in the private sector: Bono, Oprah Winfrey, and Bill Gates. Individually we can make a difference. Together we can make more of a difference. And if we look for and reinforce the signs of progress in human rights, there will be diversity, inclusion, and tolerance. ■ COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK
