This guidebook offers tools and strategies to prepare you to speak up against prejudice, bias and stereotypes at school. Because whoever it is, and wherever you are, there are ways to be ready for such moments, ways to make sure that you aren’t caught tongue-tied, ways to make sure that you don’t let hate have the last word. NOTE: This is not an anti-bullying guidebook, though the strategies can be used to address some forms of bullying behavior. If you are implementing a specific anti-bullying curriculum in your school or district, this guidebook can be used in concert with that effort. If, for example, you are using the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, you can work with the “Circle of Bullying” chart and use strategies in this guidebook to move “Possible Defenders” and even “Disengaged Onlookers” to genuine “Defenders.” This guidebook is designed for individuals, but know that you are not alone. Even in the most oppressive school environments, allies are waiting for you somewhere in the building. Maybe they are students, other teachers or counselors. Maybe they tried to speak up once, weeks or months or years ago, but felt too alone to bring change. Seek them out. Band together. Create a campaign focused on the most prominent problem at your school, and put it into place, using resources included in the appendices of this guidebook. There is power in numbers. The campaign against bigotry involves all of us. Each of our voices matters, and each is vital to creating inclusive schools—schools that embrace the great diversity of our nation.

A Teaching Tolerance Publication.

Introduction -- IN ADVANCE: Prepare Yourself -- Prepare Your Students -- IN THE MOMENT: Basic Strategies -- The Dynamic -- The Location -- Putting It into Words -- Putting It All Together -- APPENDICES: A. For Students -- B. Role-playing -- C.Changing School Policies -- and Taking Action -- D. Resources -- Acknowledgements.