Welcome to the Pledge Project Page!

Immediately below is the lesson plan for the culminating activity for the CHS Freshman English unit on Night by Eli Wiesel.

Following the lesson plan is the archive of past student pledges. Click here to go directly to student pledges.

Purpose:
This is an activity to encourage active participation in the process of developing an environment of tolerance on the local level, and to create a sense of individual responsibility for the elimination of prejudice.  It is an empowering activity for the students, with an emphasis on demonstrating their words and beliefs with actions.

This activity employs the language arts of writing, speaking, and listening.  It's foundation is the reading of Night and related materials.

ESLRs addressed:
*  Healthy and Balanced Individuals
*  Problem Solvers and Critical Thinkers
*  Effective Communicators
*  Productive Members of Society

Procedure:

1.  Introduce the words "pledge".  Define and ask for examples.
(Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary definition - "a binding promise or agreement to do")

2.  Explain to the students that the whole class will create a pledge concerning prejudice and tolerance based on their studies of Night and related research materials.  The whole class must reach consensus on the wording, so that every student is willing to sign his or her name to the pledge.  This pledge will then be presented to the administration.  (A fun added activity is passing out helium balloons with the words "No Room in My Heart for Prejudice" or "World Citizen" or other appropriate phrase to each student and to the administration on the presentation day.)

3.  Hold elections for 2 discussion leaders, 2 secretaries, 2 artists, 2 presenters, (and 4 "balloonists" if handing out balloons).  No electioneering allowed!  Every class member is eligible.  Students with highest votes in each category will serve.  (If, after elections, a student declines to serve, then appoint the student with next highest number of votes.)

4.  Turn the class over to the discussion leaders.  (Side coach only if necessary.)  Discussion leaders will lead a brainstorming session for ideas, which will take the rest of the period.  Make sure that a white board, dictionary, and thesaurus are available for students to use.  (I find that students particularly like using the thesaurus on the class computer.)

5.  The secretaries will take notes of all ideas while the brainstorming session is taking place.

6.  At the end of the period encourage students to think about phrases/ideas over night, and to write additional thoughts/refined wording to bring the next day.

7.  Begin the next class period with a reading of both secretaries' notes.  Invite discussion leaders to take over again.  They should ask for any new ideas/refined words, and begin to draw the class towards consensus.  Consensus should be reached by the end of the class.

8.  Type up the agreed upon pledge.  Circulate in class for all students to sign.

9.  Give a copy of the pledge to the artists so they can copy the pledge on a large poster board.  The artists will probably need at least two classes to finish printing and artwork.

10.  Allow the two presenters some time to develop their presentation describing the process of studying Night, writing related research papers, and developing the pledge.

11.  Invite the principal and other administrators to a presentation.  Give the "balloonists" time before the presentation to prepare the balloons.  Present the pledge, give out balloons, take pictures!  Give each student his/her own copy of the signed pledge, and prominently display the poster in the classroom.

Outcome:
This activity should instill in students a greater sense of responsibility for, and awareness of, tolerance in and out of the classroom.  (Two weeks after the presentation, all three of my classes have referred at least once to the poster in their class discussion.  The pledges have become part of our classroom culture.)
 
 

STUDENT PLEDGE ARCHIVES
(click here for top of page)

(click here for bottom of page)

Period 3, Spring 1999
 

We vow to do our best

to create a prejudice free environment

where all differences

will not be discriminated against.

We will be accepting, understanding,

and treat all others with respect and equality.

Signed
N.S., A.R., M.P., S.S., L.E., B.B., A.H., M.R., A.S., S.W.,
J.D., M.T., J.W., L.E., L.W., L.J., S.C., M.G., R.R.
 
 
 

Period 4, Spring 1999
 

You do not come into this world with hate,

But you learn by mothers and fathers who open the color gate.

You grow up hating someone because of the color of their skin,

Without knowing who they are within.

We know not who has wagered this war,

No one knows what they were starting before.

They judged someone who seemed out of place,

Why do we exclude people by race?

We need to realize that every color is special,

Every color's unique,

It's when we put them together, the picture is complete.

So I sit here and swear,

to you and the next person after

that you will never hear from me

the cruelty of racist laughter.

Signed

J.D., C.H., A.H., C.W., R.S., P.M., J.C., R.R., E.L., B.R.,
D.J., K.B., E.M., J.M., M.H., K.L., A.A., J.R., J.J.
 
 
 

Period 5 - Spring 1999
 

On behalf of the freshman English class

we pledge to overcome any and all differences

by trying to get to know and understand

people who are different from us

before we form our opinions.

By getting to know people

we can learn to accept and respect their cultures,

and only then can we overcome our prejudice.

Signed

N.T., P.A., W.C., S.S., J.G., R.O., M.O., M.J., N.J., M.J.,
A.S., T.L., S.S., S.L., L.L., E.S., J.M.
 
 

Period 3 - Spring 2000

All people are prejudiced to a certain extent.

We pledge to try to overcome this impediment.

Man was born with the right to equality,

despite differences in appearance,

race, ethnicity or religion.

We believe that people should be blind to one another's

differences and have open hearts to everyone.

We pledge to respect and not deny the right of equality.

We know that we can't change the world,

but in pledging this,

we hope to change our lives for the better of mankind.

Signed

J.C., T.R., S.O., T.A., J.C., E.B., A.R., D.M., J.F., K.D., S.C., A.K., J.N.,
R.G., B.W., J.B., B.G., D.V., M.C., M.M., R.M.
 

Period 5 - Spring 2000

We the Freshman class of 2003

pledge to recognize people's differences

and accept all people for who they are inside.

We believe that people should be accepted

regardless of their cultures,

ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs.

We believe there should be equality for all individuals

and will not discriminate based on outward appearance.

We pledge to show common courtesy to all around us.

We will try to create a safe environment

where everyone can believe what they want.

We accept everyone's equal opportunity to

succeed and prosper.

We as a class understand

the more we work together the more gets done.

We believe with our hearts

that love is the ultimate key to kindness.

We pledge to love and protect

all who come into our presence.

Signed

R.H., V.A., A.R., F.B., M.L., K.D., B.P., N.W., X.E.,
S.E., R.R., C.B., M.K., S.K., J.C., M.S., M.S.
 

Period 6 - Spring 2000

(In recognition that there are many paths to the same goal,
the 6th period class created two pledges, at least one of which was acceptable to each student.)
 

We pledge to try our best to be

Respectful of one another and each other's ideas and beliefs.

We will also try not to pre-judge others in first encounters.

Lastly we vow to be courteous to other people,

no matter their race, religion, or ethnic background.
 

We pledge to try our best to be

courteous of one another and each other's ideas and beliefs,

no matter their race, religion, or ethnic background.

We will also try not to pre-judge others in first encounters.
 

Signed

K.S., M.M., B.B., M.W., J.S., M.L., T.B., T.S., C.J., A.P., N.B., K.H.,
A.W., L.R., C.E., J.H., M.D., E.R., M.D., G.G., J.Z., C.L.


Period 2 - Spring 2001

We the class of 2004 pledge to be respectful, patient, open minded,

and to listen to others even though we are not perfect.

By setting good examples

we may build the road for others who may lose their way on the journey through life.

By setting reachable goals

we may repair the ditches of prejudice and cynicism that create obstacles in everyday life.


"Peace, if it ever exists, will not be based on the fear of war,
but on the love of peace.
It will not be the abstaining from an act,
but the coming of a state of mind."
- Julian Banda

Signed,
J.S., A.T., D.M., S. D.-K., A.R., B.C., C.K., A.G., E.B., B.R., A.M., J.C., B.S.,
C.P., C.L., S.J., J.M., A.V., B.W., U.S., R.S.


 

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