Every Student Belongs: Hate Symbols
Overview
Since this lesson focuses on the swastika and other hate symbols—hate symbols that target a range of identity groups including Jewish people, people of color, etc.—it is important to be mindful that seeing and discussing these symbols could be upsetting for some or many of your students. Some students may feel relieved or comfortable discussing these issues in class and others may feel nervous, uncomfortable or angry to be talking about a topic so close to home. Prior to teaching the lesson, assess the maturity of your students in being able to handle this challenging content, review your classroom guidelines for establishing a safe learning environment and provide opportunities for students to share their feelings as the lesson proceeds.]
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will reflect on the significance of symbols in our society.
Students will learn about specific hate symbols and teach their classmates
what they learned.
Students will identify what can be done as individuals, school or a community to confront hate symbols.
LESSON OVERVIEW
We see symbols every day in all aspects of our lives. Symbols are used to convey ideas, qualities, emotions, material objects/products, opinions and beliefs. Unfortunately, symbols are also used to convey hate and bias. Lately, we have seen a lot of hate symbol graffiti in public spaces and specifically the swastika, which in most circumstances is understood as an expression of antisemitism. There has reportedly been an increase in antisemitic incidents, including the display of swastikas on school and college campuses, sidewalks, places of worship, online, on doors, buildings, dorm rooms, buses, school and public bathrooms, vehicles and other places. The proliferation of other hate symbols is also of increasing concern.
This lesson provides an opportunity for students to reflect on the importance of symbols in our society, understand more about specific hate symbols, and identify strategies for responding to and eliminating hate symbols.