The
3rd annual Lake Ridge Academy Diversity Forum was held on Thursday,
October 2 at Lake Ridge. In 2001, the first forum, United We Stand,
evolved as a response to the events in the wake of September 11. Dismayed
by the rise in ethnic tensions following the attack, Lake Ridge Academy
students under the guidance of Dr. Chandana Mozumdar invited other
high school students in Lorain and Cuyahoga counties to join them
in a day-long discussion on ways to mitigate those tensions.
The third forum broadened the issues for student discussions
and involved participation from a panel of area school leaders.
Addressing such topics as “How do you define diversity?”;
“How important or unimportant is ensuring the inclusion of
diversity in our secondary school curriculum?” ; “How
do you address diversity in your school?”; and “Has
9/11 changed your academic focus on diversity?” was Dr. Esther
Johnson, Executive Director of Multicultural and Multilingual Education
(Cleveland Public Schools), Mr. Peter Corrigan, Principal (St. Ignatius
High School), Mrs. Barbara Kilker, Assistant Principal (St. Joseph’s
Academy), Mr. George Scheckelhoff, Principal (Westlake High School)
and Mrs. Deborah M. Cook, Head of School (Lake Ridge Academy). The
panel itself represented a diversity of education institutions from
religious to independent to public. Each panelist brought his/her
unique perspectives to these issues.
During the Diversity Forum morning session students
led discussion groups. Topics included “Be it resolved that
there should be a complete separation of Church and State”;
“War on terror or war on human-rights?”; “What’s
holding you back? (a session leadership)”; “Harvey Milk
High School: Act of necessity or segregation?”; and “Gender
bias in education”. Students from over twelve schools and
four counties participated. After lunch, the group reconvened as
a whole for the panel presentation by the area educators.
Students from previous forums unanimously agreed
that getting to know one another is the first step in taking down
walls. They were grateful for the opportunity to meet other high
school students to exchange thoughts and opinions. Their comments
prompted the yearly continuation of the forum.
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