Columbia and Goff Recognized as ‘No Place for Hate’ Schools

Jun 2, 2022 | Columbia, District, Goff

CHS No Place for Hate students in front of their String of Hearts

No Place for Hate students in front of their String of Hearts display at Columbia High School.

Columbia High School and Howard L. Goff Middle School both received designation as 2021-22 No Place for Hate schools from the Anti-Defamation League earlier this week. The program promotes an anti-bias and anti-bullying message to create a more positive school environment.

To receive No Place for Hate designation, a school must complete the following:

  • Needs assessment
  • Formation of a No Place for Hate committee
  • Signing of the Resolution of Respect
  • One A World of Difference® Institute anti-bias or bullying prevention training program
  • Design and implementation of three school-wide anti-bias or bullying prevention activities

At Columbia, students created a String of Hearts to display around school that showed what the school community does well and what kinds of improvement are needed. They hosted a virtual talk titled “Allies Coming Together” about the confluence of individual identity and cultural diversity and they are currently displaying “Identity Circles” in the main lobby that shares parts of their identities that may not be visible to the casual observer.

No Place for Hate display at Goff Middle School

No Place for Hate display in the Goff Middle School lobby.

At Goff, students created Identity Icebergs in which they described parts of themselves that others could see and parts that were beneath the surface. They also celebrated Black History Month in February with a variety of visual displays, sharing of academic resources and virtual discussions.

Finally, students watched the Bellen Woodard video from the 2020 ADL Concert Against Hate and then participated in a discussion.

“The designation of Columbia High School and Goff Middle School as No Place for Hate Schools demonstrates our district’s goal to support and maintain a safe and engaging school educational experience for all students through valuing diversity, fostering equity and being inclusive of everyone,” said Superintendent Jeff Simons. “I am incredibly proud of our students and staff involved in these programs.”