About Not In Our School

What is Not In Our School?

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. Read about Not In School's history.

Don’t Wait: Take Not In Our School (NIOS) Action Now

1. Show a NIOS Film and follow with discussion and the accompanying NIOS lesson plan.

Select one from the 50 NIOS films and lesson guides.

2. Start a Not In Our School Anti-bullying and Intolerance Club at your school.

Kick it off by showing a NIOS film
Invite student leaders and representatives of many school contituencies
Develop a mission statement and an action plan.

3. Start a NIOS Campaign in your school.

Need help? Read about how you can implement Not In Our School on your campus.

A Not In Our School (NIOS) campaign is an ongoing commitment to empower students to create safe and inclusive environments that are free of bullying, harassment and all forms of intolerance. Every NIOS campaign takes on the characteristics of the school community and responds to local issues and needs. A Not In Our School Campaign mobilizes students to be “upstanders” who take action to stand up for another or others and create a climate that reflects the values of safety, respect and inclusion in these ways:

Identification of problems of intolerance and bullying: The focus is on problems that result from students bullying, harassing or being exclusionary. Often, harassment is based on gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, appearance or ability. The first step is to start with a dialogue about the particular problem.

Solutions defined by students and peer-to-peer actions: Students are supported in defining the problems and identifying solutions. These solutions incorporate peer-to-peer actions to make schools safe and help bystanders gather the courage to become upstanders.

Collective voice: The entire school community unites to stand up to bullying and intolerance and to say “NOT IN OUR SCHOOL.” This can take many forms—buttons, banners, slogans, T-shirts, pledges, assemblies, and school-wide activities—but it needs to grow out of authentic discussion and efforts to create a safe and welcoming environment for students of all backgrounds and identities.

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

Over 50 Not In Our School videos (many now with closed captions), and lesson plans organized by theme and grade-level,with discussion questions to open the conversation and spark dialogue in your classroom or school group.
NIOS Quick Start Guide provides a template for starting a NIOS campaign.

FOR EDUCATORS

Step-by-step Not In Our School activity guides you can use to adapt the activities featured in our films.
Lesson ideas from our education partner Facing History and Ourselves
Ideas and teacher tips for creating a NIOS group and joining the NIOS community
Access to the NIOS Educators Network, and sign-up features for NIOS Educator Facebook Page and the NIOS newsletter
Not In Our School Video Action Kit order forms

FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Video: Youth Leaders Share Strategies for Standing Up to Hate
An interactive "What Do You Say?" section to share stories, ideas, and advice for taking a stand against bullying and intolerance
Art and video contests and challenges for students

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:

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.

See also:

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