District News

A real-life lesson on bullying and stereotypes

 

November, 2010

 

Arthur L. Miller calls the men who killed his friend Emmett Till, “bullies.”

Miller told Canajoharie eighth graders that Till could have been a brain surgeon or helped find a cure for cancer. Unfortunately, no one will ever know—Till was only 14 years old when he was murdered in 1955. His tragic death helped spark the civil rights movement.

Miller turned his childhood experiences with Till in Chicago into the book, “Journey to Chatham,” which students read this year in English class.

Miller said bullies prevent people from reaching their full potential and urged students to take action by comforting a victim or someone not as popular as everyone else.

“People who don’t get comforted may get depressed and hurt themselves. Every single day, you can choose to sit next to someone who no one likes,” he said. “You can choose to sit next to someone who might not be popular…I’m asking you to choose to be a hero.”

English teacher Lori Schaffer said Miller spoke to students last year and seemed to have a “profound effect.” Not only did they read his novel, but also learned about an important part of history.

“Emmett Till was one of the driving forces behind civil rights. It was 100 days after his death that Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus,” she said.

During the presentation on Nov. 19, many students asked multiple questions focusing on Miller attentively. He often brought them forward from their seats, making good on his promise that he “would see everybody and get to know them.”

He spoke to students for more than two hours about bullying, stereotypes, and the onset of the civil rights movement. He also answered lots of questions about his book.

Overall, one theme tied Miller’s presentation together: doing the right thing.

“Do you understand the importance of standing up for someone?” he asked. “You are charged to do right in all things.”