Establishing a Safe Learning Environment

Tools and Strategies

For Educators In many of ADL’s lesson plans and activities, students are challenged to explore and articulate their personal feelings about sensitive topics including segregation, discrimination, and the value of diverse school communities. Talking about themes related to diversity requires that students demonstrate maturity and compassion for others. In conjunction with social justice curricula, it is therefore recommended that teachers use service learning, conflict resolution,…

February 14, 2014

Assessing Children's Literature

Tools and Strategies

Literature is a powerful vehicle for helping children understand their homes, communities and the world. Even before young children can read, family members, childcare providers and teachers read them stories about people in faraway places, sometimes from the distant past and sometimes about people whose lives are similar to their own. The impressions and messages contained in these stories can last a lifetime. Books, at their best, invite children to use their imaginations, expand their…

January 02, 2006

ADL Letter to Augusta National Golf Club

Letter

August 01, 2012 William Porter “Billy” Payne Chairman Augusta National Golf Club 2604 Washington Road Augusta, GA 30904 Dear Mr. Payne: We write to join the chorus of voices objecting to Augusta National Golf Club’s adherence to its policy of excluding women from its membership. As a civil rights and human relations agency, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry and prejudice. For nearly 100 years…

August 01, 2012

Challenging Biased Language

Tools and Strategies

On a daily basis—in the lunchroom, at the grocery store, in school hallways, in our political rhetoric and even at home—people hear and sometimes use words and phrases that demean, ridicule, offend or show ignorance about people from different groups and backgrounds. Regardless of whether the comments are deliberately malicious, said because the person lacks knowledge, or thought to be "a joke," such words are harmful and not only impact those on the receiving end but also everyone…

September 07, 2012

ADL Letter to JTA, Regarding Day School Funding

Letter

August 03, 2012 Jewish day school funding is a real challenge and doesn’t lend itself to easy solutions. Letters to the Editor The Jewish Telegraphic Agency To the Editor: Jewish education and religious freedom are both vital to the American Jewish community. But it would be a mistake to sacrifice one for the other, as advocated by Shai Franklin (“ADL must reassess opposition to gov’t support for parochial schools,” Aug. 1). We are in agreement that Jewish…

August 03, 2012

ADL and Albanian-Americans Agree: Stereotyping Muslims Unacceptable

Letter

May 16, 2007 Mr. Esad Rizaj President Albanian American Society Foundation 2548 Davidson Avenue Bronx, NY 10468 Dear Mr. Rizaj: Thank you for sharing your concern that some people may blame and target Muslims, including Albanian-Americans, in the aftermath of the recent arrests in the Fort Dix case. It is vitally important that we show strength and determination in fighting terrorism, and we congratulate those law enforcement authorities responsible for uncovering and successfully…

May 16, 2007

Mel Gibson's Apology to the Jewish Community

Letter

August 01, 2006 The following is the text of Mel Gibson's apology to the Jewish Community for his anti-Semitic statements. There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of Anti-Semitic remark. I want to apologize specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I said to a law enforcement officer the night I was arrested on a DUI charge. I am a public person, and when I say something, either…

August 01, 2006

BMW Map Omission was Unintentional

Letter

August 09, 2002 An e-mail message claims that BMW's Middle East Web site omits Israel from a regional map. This e-mail has been widely circulated on the Internet and has resulted in numerous complaints to ADL. The League has been in contact with BMW. The automaker explained that the omission of Israel was unintentional, a result of designing and programming errors and not a comment on Middle East politics. BMW said that it "regrets having published this map" and assured ADL that the Web…

August 09, 2002