Teaching Tolerance: The Freshman Seminar Story

Samo’s freshman seminar is an experience like no other. While most high school classes are taught based on well-defined general education standards, our generation at Samo has witnessed the birth of a new kind of curriculum: one which explores diversity and reflects our society.Freshman seminar is a no-nonsense, nuts-and-bolts ethics course which aims to provide a foundation for Samo’s new students entering a diverse community. The class is taught in partnership with the program “Facing History and Ourselves,” and examines themes of identity, membership and community. Freshman seminar has a core curriculum, but many teachers stray from the standard, teaching ethical behavior, exploring the roots of racism and providing strategies for preventing violence and prejudice in the way they believe will most benefit students. As new batches of freshman students pile in each year, the syllabus remains — but the catalyst has been largely forgotten.The freshman seminar curriculum shifted to focus more on racial discrimination in 2005, after racial tension between African-American and Hispanic students erupted in a widespread brawl.“There was a lot of confusion and tension between students,” Samo alumnus Eric Rotelli said. “Nobody on the staff really knew what to say.”Though the fights were primarily between African-American and Hispanic students, white students learn that as members of the school community, they contribute to the atmosphere on campus. During the fights, students from other racial groups found themselves just standing by, looking on. Bystanders watched the violence escalate and didn’t get involved. In Freshman Seminar, History Department teachers discuss how students can safely become “upstanders” rather than bystanders.“We try to have the program provide a safe environment for students to enter a dialogue about racial tension,” social studies teacher Rose Ann Salumbides said.Freshman seminar is raw, and tells no lies. It’s become a Samo tradition, showing young ninth graders how high school discussion operates.“At first I thought that freshman seminar was just a filler class,” senior Max Zasuly said. “But we did learn a lot about racial discrimination, which was helpful.”Members of the faculty are encouraged not to hide anything from students and not to baby them. The course guides Samo’s innocents to make informed decisions, become more open-minded, tolerant and even compassionate. It encourages them to take responsibility for their actions, paving the way toward 10th grade and beyond.