Human Rights Every Day By Kim Gangwisch-Marsh

ByKIM GANGWISCH-MARSH MASCA Human Rights Committee Chair

Greetings.If you attended the MASCA fall conference, I hope you heard Sally Master’s acceptance speech for the Human Rights Committee Award. Bare ly more than a couple of minutes long, Sally’s heartfelt words emphasized how important it is that we continue to ad dress inequity and injustice at every opportunity.It was when she finished,however, that I realized how little I understand what being a minority really means.

For all outward appearances, I am middle class, white, heterosexual, welleducated,and employed.Although I have experienced ridicule and can professionally attest to the struggle women have with the still-existent glass ceiling and the oldboy network, I have never been personally denigrated for the color of my skin, the language that I speak, my sexual identity, my economic status,or my choice of worship. Thus, Sally’s words reminded me that what I often take for granted— the most basic of human rights—is an ongoing struggle for others.

One of Sally’s points spoke to her im mersion, as a young child, in a culture totally different from her own.She was the minority.But this formative experience was life changing in a positive and inclusive way, unlike what some of our students face.

What can we do to broaden all students’ understanding, tolerance, and ac ceptance of differences? How can we make all children feel included?

Yes, little things count.At Hampshire Regional school system, one of the things Sally fought to remove was the non-in clusive wording on school forms and publications, such as the term “family” in stead of “parent.”This feedback from a student gives credence to her efforts. The student said, “I live with a foster family. They are not my parents, but they are my family. Thank you for making me feel included.”

Sally closed her acceptance speech by saying:“In my own coming-out process, had there been one person in my life, who had by word or deed conveyed to me that being gay was okay, my life would have been different, for the better. You have the opportunity to make this kind of difference in the lives of your students.”

As human beings and as counselors, we must remember that it really is the little things we do or say that can make the biggest difference in the lives of the people we come in contact with. Weknow this, so let’s go forth with intention.

In his book, We Can’t Teach What We Don’t Know, Gary Howard declares: “Div er sity is not a choice, but our res pon ses to it certainly are.”Fellow counselors, let’s make this our thought for the day, every day, and our resolution for the upcoming year.It starts with us.

Happy holidays. ■

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“Civil rights—racial, gender, GLBT, class. . . . starts with one person.It starts with me.”