No Place For Hate
Published 8:00 pm Thursday, May 10, 2012
Mississippi School of the Arts was recognized Wednesday afternoon by Entergy for its anti-bullying efforts.
Entergy dubbed MSA a “No Place For Hate School” and presented students with a banner.
“What this means is they are taking the initiative,” said Sandy Prowlett, a member of Entergy’s Diversity and Inclusion Council. “It’s all about dignity and respect. That’s what we’re striving for.”
The No Place For Hate program was designed by the Anti-Defamation League to encourage schools to create welcoming environments where all students feel safe.
The program targets the entire school community, from teachers to students, to address bullying and conflict at school, according to ADL promotional material about the program.
Prowlett said Entergy supports the goals of the program and has chosen to support it to foster those goals. Entergy’s Diversity and Inclusion Council adopted the program in May of 2011, Prowlett said.
Since then, MSA is one of two schools recognized within Entergy’s 45-county Mississippi service area as a No Place for Hate school. The other school recognized by Entergy was Watkins Elementary School in Jackson.
To be designated a No Place for Hate school, a school must first sign a pledge and then create a team of students and educators to oversee the initiative’s implementation. A majority of students, teachers and staff must also sign a resolution of respect. Finally, the school must complete three anti-bullying or diversity education activities.
For their activities, MSA created a performance and workshop to teach elementary and middle school students how to stop bullying. Students also participated in a 30-hour famine exercise. Finally, the school held a Mix It Up lunch day, at which students were encouraged to sit with and talk to new people.
MSA Executive Director Suzanne Hirsch welcomed the honor the school received.
“I want to thank Entergy for taking the lead to encourage inclusion and tolerance,” Hirsch said.
Kenny Goza, a local Entergy representative, said the program enabled Entergy to tell MSA it supports what the school is doing.