Mixing it Up in South Carolina Lauds

¶ … Mixing it Up in South Carolina" lauds the efforts of one small South Carolina school to eliminate foster an environment of tolerance and unity. Students of Chapin High School participate in the annual Unity Day, holding a variety of different workshops on diversity as well as a pep rally. Unity Day gave rise to a club called STOP, which has been helping students to speak out against intolerance. Students in STOP notice a marked reduction in offensive language and behavior, as more students in the predominantly white high school become more aware of prejudice and racism. Because of its success, the STOP club received the first $250 grant from Tolerance.org's Mix It Up program. Mix It Up encourages students to sit next to someone new in the cafeteria for a day to eliminate social segregation. Mix It Up has been widely successful in the United States -- more than 3000 schools participate.

Mix it Up is a clever idea. I remember from my own experiences that students tend to stick to their own social groups and cliques. Often there is little interracial or multicultural mingling in high schools. Adolescents tend to form stereotypes and prejudices that create an atmosphere of intolerance or fear. This atmosphere severely hinders the emotional and intellectual growth of minority students, as they feel the effects of segregation. Mixing It Up is a great way to introduce students to children of different races, religions, and ethnicities to promote understanding and respect. Students need to break out of conditioned patterns of social interaction to overcome ingrained biases and beliefs. This is impossible to do on an intellectual level only; embracing diversity requires direct action. The program probably sparks new friendships, as well. Chapin High School's Unity Day also seems like a step in the right direction. I feel that more and more programs like these are necessary to improve conditions for all students.