Not every lesson about these topics is appropriate. Below are some activities that should be avoided at all costs with all audiences.

Role Playing Hate

Hopefully we can agree that punching someone to teach them that punching is wrong is immoral, illegal, and ultimately an ineffective teaching strategy. If experiencing violence taught children to be peaceful, we wouldn't have generations of abuse plaguing families and nations. Rather, it creates a culture of tolerance and rationalization. It teaches that violence is okay if you are in a position of power and authority and are using it to teach a lesson. Not only is that untrue, it has horrific implications. Similarly, allowing kids to say or act out terrible things, even in a controlled setting, sends the message that there are appropriate times to say and do terrible things. Additionally, these activities run the risk that kids will overestimate their connection with the topic and may minimalize its impact on actual victims. A child who has participated in a mock slave auction may be traumatized, but will be no more prepared to empathize with someone who has actually suffered the vestigial effects of generations of slavery and oppression that their family experienced. Finally, these activities do retraumatize victims. If the goal is to create compassion for them, the means cannot require their additional traumatization. Never simulate:

• Violence

• Discrimination

• Bigotry

• Homophobia

• Racism

• Bullying

• Oppression

• Hate