Beyond Tolerance: Moving Ahead Together
A Community-wide Conference Organized by the Santa Barbara School Districts
June 28, 1997
Preface
In April 1997 a steering committee was established by the Districts to plan a school/ community forum to discuss the problems of intolerance as they relate to youth.
That forum, Beyond Tolerance: Moving Ahead Together, occurred on Saturday, June 28, 1997 at Santa Barbara High School from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Approximately 350 persons attended, representing a wide spectrum of the community including religious leaders, foundations, community members, government representatives, students, parents, teachers, representatives from a variety of public and private agencies and organizations, school administrators, and school board members.
Sue Stengel of the Anti-Defamation League served as moderator. Superintendent William Cirone, Santa Barbara County Education Office, and Superintendent Michael W. Caston, Santa Barbara Elementary and High School Districts, delivered keynote addresses. After the keynote addresses, a panel comprised of ten students, scholars, and community leaders posed perspectives and questions on topics such as depersonalization; gender equity; persons with disabilities; gay and lesbian concerns; Latino student issues; problems faced by non-English speaking students; the role of the media in forming public opinion; and the impact of power, privilege and oppression.
City At Peace, a student group, followed with a stirring dramatic presentation on racism.
Forum participants then attended one of eight smaller breakout groups. Over a box lunch underwritten in part by the Santa Barbara Public Education Foundation, the participants engaged in dialogue and worked toward identifying and exploring possible solutions that could be undertaken in collaboration with our schools. Each breakout group was led by a resource person(s) with particular expertise and assisted by a facilitator and a scribe who recorded key discussion points and recommendations.
This final report is the voice and record of Beyond Tolerance: Moving Ahead Together. It reflects the thoughts, the concerns, and the soul searching that took place when our community came together to examine ways that we can individually and collectively make a difference. The panel presentations have been videotaped and are available on video.
Barbara Keyani, Beyond Tolerance, Co-Chair
Coordinator of Public Information
Santa Barbara School Districts
Claire VanBlaricum, Beyond Tolerance, Co-Chair
President, Board of Education
Santa Barbara School Districts