NCJ Number
178209
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 61 Issue: 5 Dated: August 1999 Pages: 82-86
Date Published
1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The Massachusetts Governor's Task Force on Hate Crimes has created the Student Civil Rights Project to provide assistance and support for students, parents, educators, and law enforcement by creating school settings that are safe and free of harassment of violence and thus help prevent hate crimes.
Abstract
The project began in 1998. Its first initiative was the 1998 Summer Internship Program, which brought together a working group of college and high school students to explore, identify, review, and recommend curriculum and resources that school communities could implement to prevent hatred, prejudice, and violence in schools. The centerpiece of the internship program was the creation of a youth-focused Web site (stopthehate.org). Another initiative was to raise awareness in schools about hate crimes, harassment, and civil rights issues. The project also conducts extensive outreach to church organizations, youth groups, advocacy groups, and civil rights organizations. Two regional training sessions took place last fall. The project has used media outlets to encourage discussion about hate, bias, prejudice, and violence in Massachusetts school. The project has also asked that all Massachusetts high schools designate a civil rights coordinator. Further efforts will include continuing development of the Web site, pilot Civil Rights Teams in high schools throughout the State, and the development of an online database at the Web site.