We want to applaud the Rev. J. Mark Worth for his column in the Press last week, “Religious Prejudice and Islam.” Nine years ago our daughter had the opportunity to go to an interfaith camp of Christians, Muslims, and Jews sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League. Not only did she learn that all three religions share the same roots, as described by the Rev. Mark Worth in his column, but also she and the other campers learned to celebrate their differences. Their time together extended beyond the camp. They worked on community service projects and continued to explore their identities for years to come.
She then took it upon herself to help the school community by starting a new program at Bromfield called World of Difference, supported in part by the Harvard Schools Trust. Having graduated Bromfield five years ago, she has left it to us, her parents, to carry that torch. We have, by participating in the Harvard Public Schools’ strategic plan that now includes diversity and by being an active member on the School Diversity Committee, which is not just about religion, but also about race, ethnicity, disability, gender identification, and socio-economic status, to name a few.
Our community has more diversity than it had nearly 10 years ago when our family began to reflect on these issues. The School Diversity Committee is one place where teachers, students, parents, administrators, and community members are trying to shape teacher and student understanding and school culture. The committee is also planning to host community events to further its commitment to engagement and awareness. Alumni surveys inform us that our graduates feel unprepared entering college and the workplace when interacting with others of different backgrounds—that they led too sheltered lives. After this election season, it is important that we have conversations with our children about what it means to live in a global world where everyone is not the same but all are valued. We ask everyone to give this some thought; to have conversations within your families about inclusiveness, about ending generalizations about any group of people; to read different perspectives; to listen more and understand more; and to visit with those different than yourselves.
Ellen Sachs and Bruce Leicher
Warren Ave.
