One of Guilderland's priorities is to move students beyond New York State's standards, preparing them not just for the tests they will take in school but also for the real "tests" of life. Here is an example of how the district is accomplishing this priority:

Respecting diversity
A closer look at NCBI

When sophomore Phong La first became involved with the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) at Guilderland High School, he was surprised by the extent of prejudice that exists within his school. "You have no idea what others have been through," he said.

Gender. Religion. Sexual orientation. Race. Social cliques. Disabilities. Life situations. These are just some of the diversity issues that students must learn to address and understand as they pass by one another in the hallways of their school each and every day.

But by sharing personal stories of tolerance and discrimination, students and staff members involved with NCBI are working to raise awareness of the painful implications of prejudice and to offer hope of ending discrimination.

"Often students are not aware of what their words mean and what their behaviors do to others," said Rene Sheehan, an NCBI co-coordinator and counselor at the high school. "But through this program, students can act as agents of change."

The program

Founded in 1984 by Cherie Brown, the National Coalition Building Institute is an international, nonprofit organization that assists schools, universities, corporations, and government agencies in creating more inclusive environments.

"The program helps students and staff understand stereotyping. They see just how many people get discriminated against in various ways, and they learn how to be good allies to those people," said David Best, an NCBI co-coordinator and social worker at the high school.

NCBI was first introduced at Guilderland High in 1998, when chapter leaders from the Capital Region organized a group of 14 students and 10 faculty members to attend a one-day workshop on respecting diversity. The group itself was diverse, made up of students, staff and administrators from varying backgrounds.

The next week, all of the participants attended a two-day "train the trainer" workshop, where they learned how to lead diversity workshops at Guilderland High School. From that point on, the popularity of the program has increased significantly year after year.

The Respecting Diversity workshop begins by encouraging participants to view each other’s differences as assets. Students and staff work together to explore the diversity that exists within the room. Participants then investigate common stereotypes. Throughout the day, students and staff also learn to claim pride in identifying with a particular group and develop hands-on tools for dealing effectively with bigoted comments and behaviors.

Undoubtedly, one of the most powerful activities of the day-long workshop is a group-sharing session called "speak outs." These are candid, and often emotional, revelations by students and staff members of how discrimination has affected their lives. Sometimes the speaker has been a victim of hurtful words and behaviors, while at other times he or she has been the victimizer.

Best said that the NCBI workshop provides a "very healing environment for those who have been hurt. It offers hope that people can be ‘better’."

In addition, "the workshops help build confidence," said Sheehan. "Students feel more comfortable speaking in front of a group, and the workshop curriculum focuses on skills and attitudes that students can bring to college and into the workplace."

Changing perspectives

Today, 36 NCBI student and staff trainers at Guilderland offer five to six day-long diversity workshops every school year. Throughout the past five years, approximately 650 students and 50 staff members have gone through the program at the high school.

In addition, Farnsworth Middle School will begin offering NCBI workshops to students this spring.

"The workshop really changes your perspective of how you feel and react to things," said junior Gena Swint, an NCBI student trainer. "You hear stories during speak outs and think, ‘I can’t believe what this person went through.’"

Sophomore student trainer Shazia Baig agrees. "You tend to see more clearly after the workshop," she said. "And you think more before you speak."

"NCBI helped me learn not to do things I used to do," said Phong La. "I respect others more." La notes that his friends have also changed because of his training and are more respectful of other people’s feelings.

"They react differently because of how I present myself. The program showed me how to approach people who are being offensive. I am more confident and I am not afraid to address problems as they happen."

Teaching students the value of diversity is a lesson not easily tested in any classroom. But the skills they are learning will hopefully build stronger communities. "We understand that we are not going to change the world in one day, but a small group of people, even an individual, can make a difference," said Best.