March, 1996 |
Kristen Webber and Avelino Silva
Attend Cultural Diversity Conference
By Melissa Desautels
"We tend to misjudge people a lot. We only see what our eyes can show us and sometimes our eyes can be deceiving," said Avelino Silva. Avelino joined students from nineteen other Fairfield county schools at a conference on cultural diversity in Stamford.
The conference was a way for people from very different schools to come together as one to learn about prejudice and how they all can play a part in overcoming it. During the day the students participated in various activities and talked to each other about what they thought they could do to help stop prejudice in their schools and communities.
Joining Avelino in representing Central at the conference were Marcus Rice and Kristen Webber. "Communicating with others is a good way for us to break down the barriers that may stand between us," said Avelino.
The conference was a step toward putting an end to prejudice. The participants were able to learn how to get past impressions and look at what really counts. "After we did some activities together we got to know how the people around us really are," said Avelino.
Joseph Ellis, Ridgefield High School's principal, also attended the conference with three of his students. "What I gained from the session was that people of good will and good faith must stand up to people making discriminatory statements; and they must be told that we find their opinions and actions are offensive. It is time to say to these people of ill will - enough of this ignorance," Ellis explained.
Central has the advantage of an integrated student body. Most students have grown up with classmates and made friends across ethnic and racial lines. Central's principal, Andrew Karcich, feels very strongly about cultural diversity at Central. "Cultural diversity is what Central is all about. I've always said that the school's greatest strength is its multicultural student body."
