Framingham Public Schools
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Youth is king at annual conference By D. Craig MacCormack/Daily News staff Associated Press Saturday, March 10, 2007 - Updated: 12:56 AM EST (Note: this program was originally funded as a FEF Signature Grant program; its success continues several years later.) BOSTON - Cliques are as much a part of high school as the prom and varsity letters. But Framingham High students say it doesn't have to always be that way and have put their words into action for the past five years, working with the Anti-Defamation League as mentors to eliminate biases and discrimination. Several Framingham High seniors were among the group leaders yesterday who talked about embracing diversity at the Anti-Defamation League's annual Youth Congress at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. The 13th annual gathering, focused on valuing diversity, brought together about 800 students, including youngsters from Norwood, Lincoln-Sudbury High School, Sharon and Westwood among many others. "It all starts with one person," said Framingham High senior Frankie Martino, one of the student leaders at the daylong conference. He is one of about 20 Framingham High seniors who has spoken to his schoolmates about tolerance. "The best way to break up those cliques and eliminate them is to try to be part of as many groups as possible," said Martino. Fellow student leader Stephanie Corrales agreed, saying school officials have fostered a positive environment by occasionally holding Mix It Up days in the cafeteria, where students are asked to sit with people other than their usual lunch buddies. The assembly for sophomores interested in becoming ADL peer trainers in Framingham schools is March 23. In most years, between 100 and 150 students express interest in the program, with the group eventually whittled down based on attendance, grades, interviews and their public presence. "The success of the kids is in their ability to teach it," said Framingham High teacher Jeff Convery, who joins with fellow Framingham teacher Kevin Salvi to select the student leaders. The students chosen as peer leaders take classes in their junior year and talk about tolerance in front of groups throughout their senior year. Martino, for example, has done about two dozen talks through the Lessons Learned program, he said. Andrew Tarsy, the ADL's New England regional director, sees Framingham's approach to peer leadership as the only way to make it work. Other schools try to include the program as an extra-curricular activity. "If we want this to have an impact, it can't be an add-on," said Tarsy. "It needs to be part of the typical day." Framingham High junior Andrea Eversley is among next year's crop of peer leaders. She became interested in breaking down walls because of her quest to learn more about other cultures. She has noticed "so many separations" among the students at Framingham High, but says it's typical for the high school experience. As a member of the international club and president of her class, she hopes to eliminate cliques. She believes the message from peer leaders might often be more powerful than if it came from a teacher. She believes students are more willing to share with other students too. "By having another student tell you what they've gone through, there's more of a connection," said Eversley. Salvi, a teacher in Framingham for more than 30 years, has seen a gradual change in how Framingham High students deal with each other, saying tolerance "is slowly becoming part of our culture." |
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