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About NIOS

Across the country, students and teachers are sharing stories, joining together and taking action to create safe schools, free from stereotypes, intolerance, and hate. They’re part of a movement called Not In Our School (NIOS).

For more than a decade, Not In Our School has inspired students of all ages to develop and share innovative ways to resist bullying and promote an atmosphere of acceptance and inclusion.

The Not In Our School videos, activities and resources on our website showcase the immense capacity, energy, and creativity of young people who are creating new ways to make their schools safe for everyone.

Here's what you'll find on the NIOS website:

• Over 20 Not In Our School videos, with discussion questions to open the conversation and spark dialogue in your classroom or school group
• Lesson ideas from our education partner Facing History and Ourselves
• Step-by-step Not In Our School activity guides you can use to adapt the creative activities featured in our films to your school or classroom.
• Teacher tips on starting Not In Our School on your campus
• An interactive "What Do You Say?" section for students to share stories, ideas, and advice for taking a stand against bullying and intolerance

Not In Our School Case Studies

1. Not In Our School: Palo Alto
In Palo Alto, California, student leaders, administrators, and teachers put on an annual Not in Our School month of activities about preventing intolerance, including class discussions, a dissolving stereotypes pool, "Not In Our Town" video screenings, and student-produced videos. Palo Alto's Not In Our School month has become a model for engaging students in discussion and action against intolerance and bullying.

• Videos: Art Students Picture a World Without Intolerance, Dissolving Stereotypes, Students Tune in and Speak Out, Not In Our School Palo Alto Screening Premiere
• Local Lesson: Starting a Not In Our School Campaign
• Podcast: In this audio clip, JL Stanford Middle School counselor talks about why it's important to address name-calling and bullying in middle school. Listen now. Teachers interested in implementing similar discussions about prejudice and discrimination can use this activity guide.

2. Not In Our School: Lancaster
Inspired by Palo Alto's Not In Our School program, Lancaster, Calif. developed their own weeklong Not in Our Town Citywide Anti-Bullying program, bringing together the city and four school districts serving 50,000 students. The Not In Our Town video team documented their activities, including the student performance, "Darkness to Light," a memorial for seven students across the country lost to bullying.

• Blog post: "Kids create change on campus:" Not In Our Town Lancaster

   

Our Education Partners: Facing History and Ourselves
The Not In Our School initiative has partnered with education nonprofit Facing History and Ourselves. Facing History and Ourselves combats racism, antisemitism, and religious prejudice by using history to teach tolerance in classrooms around the globe.


As part of our partnership, Facing History and Ourselves teachers across the country have introduced NIOS videos into their classroom. Facing History and Ourselves has also developed classroom lesson guides for Not In Our School videos. These include:

• Preparing to Use the Not in Our School Website
• Facing History and Ourselves Lesson Plan: Using Not in Our School Videos
• Facing History and Ourselves Lesson Plan: Youth Leaders Share Strategies for Standing Up to Hate
• Facing History and Ourselves Lesson Plan: Spread the Peace
   

 Not On Our Campus: Resources for College Students

The Not in Our School Initiative is a collaboration of Not in Our Town and Facing History and Ourselves made possible through the generosity of the Einhorn Family Charitable Trust.

Not In Our School is a project of The Working Group, a 501(c)3 nonprofit documentary production organization.

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