Sports rivalries can energize school spirit. But keeping events respectful takes a dynamic blend of foresight, leadership and buy-in from the community.
Marilyn Elias, a Los Angeles journalist, is a frequent contributor to publications of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Her work has been honored with awards from the American Psychological Assn., the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Council on Contemporary Families and Mental Health America.
A parent of a first-grader tried to wrangle her child from peering into my classroom. “He just can’t wait to be in middle school! He thinks your students are rock stars,” she said. Peter isn’t the only young student who stops by each morning to greet the older kids. And the enthusiasm goes both ways.