Liza Wiemer, (author of The Assignment) and Baptiste Paul, (author of various picture books including Adventures to School, I Am Farmer, and The Field) are presenting "Upstanders: Helping Students Speak Up Against Injustice And Hate" in WSRA's October Voices for Justice Academy. The Voices for Justice Academy is the first of nine Monthly Academies for WSRA's virtual conference, "Raising Our Voices: Empowering All Learners Today to Change the World Tomorrow".

Book review:
It is unbelievable - but unfortunately true - that Liza Wiemer’s The Assignment is based on an actual assignment and the story that followed. Wiemer’s YA novel showcases two New York teens, Logan and Cade, who are appalled by - and subsequently refuse to do – an anti-Semitic assignment. Students were assigned to research about and then participate in a debate where half of the class was assigned to argue in favor of the Nazi’s “Final Solution” and the murder of millions of Jewish people. Logan and Cade move awkwardly through some everyday teen struggles, but when encountered with the assignment, they stood together and stood up for their beliefs and values. Wiemer’s exquisite writing style and her fast-paced, completely compelling story of The Assignment is a must read. Believe you me, it definitely delivers a clear and important message about intolerance and racism that every teen and adult must read. The novel’s cover asks, “Would YOU speak up for what is right?” This page-turner captured me as it will you and your students. 

Learn more about being an upstander from Liza Wiemer and Baptiste Paul in WSRA's October Voices for Justice Academy. Upstanders: Helping Students Speak Up Against Injustice And Hate  It’s widely known that students fear peer alienation more than they fear death. Sometimes, they join the wrong crowd or participate in activities that don’t align with their values. They learn quickly when they don’t belong. Alienation, bullying and feeling different are strong barriers to speaking up against injustice and hate. Utilizing literature that provides positive examples and role models to foster discussion, kindness, and respect is a critical part in helping students become aware of ingrained attitudes and can help foster change. We will examine bias and provide guidelines for an inclusive classroom. We’ll share our own books as well as others to promote respect, celebrate differences, promote tolerance and create a safe environment for upstanders. Register for the conference to hear more.