CELEBRATING DIVERSITY.
Woodroffe High School teacher Mylène Abi-Zeid and Grade 11 student Jamellia Camel, 16, are working together to promote diversity at the high school.
Photo by Kristy Wallace
EMC news - Jamellia Camel feels that high school can be a tough place sometimes.
She’s tired of hearing her peers call things “gay” when they mean “stupid.” She doesn’t like hearing bullies make fun of other students for being different.
That’s why the 16-year-old student from Woodroffe High School has been part of the school’s Diversity Club since it started in September.
“I have a lot of family and friends that are gay and lesbian,” said Camel. “You want to see humans treat other humans good. It doesn’t make sense to me when people treat others so badly.”
Camel, along with about 10 other students, meets every Tuesday with teacher Mylène Abi-Zeid to think of ways the Diversity Club can make their opinions and voices heard – especially about homophobia in school hallways.
Abi-Zeid started the club in September, which came out of talks she had with the school’s principal last year.
“The principal approached me about starting a club, and said some people came to him with an interest,” she said.
When the club started, it had about four members, but Camel said it has since grown to 10, and members represent all faces of the student body.
“We have people talking about the Diversity Club with their group of friends, and it’s getting around the school and becoming successful,” she said.
Abi-Zeid said the club took part in the recent Rainbow Youth Forum, and also went on a Jer’s Vision field trip where students got to meet Jeremy Dias – an Ottawa-based equality activist who also visited the school before to talk about homophobia and discrimination.
“Schools need (a club) like this and since it’s been created, we’ve had messages from different staff members saying, ‘Thank you; it’s about time,’” Abi-Zeid said.
Camel also said the club has had an effect on students, and even though their posters sometimes still get ripped down by students, the messages are getting through to some.
“Woodroffe is pretty diverse on its own,” she said. “There are a lot of religions and cultures at Woodroffe. When you come into the school, you’re exposed to diversity, and I think just being exposed to diversity makes people more open.”
Abi-Zeid added that she tells her students that things can’t change overnight, but having a Diversity Club is a good start.
“The school will have growing pains – we have some cultures who are completely homophobic and non-accepting,” she said. “We hope to get them to come around and understand (homosexuality) isn’t a choice you make.”
Abi-Zeid also said she sympathizes with students who are gay, and have to come to school everyday. As a gay teacher, she said she would love to be more public about it because students need that role model.
“It’s silly…but I’m worried about the repercussions that will come from students,” she said. “What will they say to me or call me? I’ve been struggling with that myself as the adult.”
She added that support for the Diversity Club has also spread to the club’s Facebook group, and said she hopes the club’s message will resonate with students.
“By having this (club), people will see that it doesn’t matter what you look like or who you are. You’re here to have an education so you can have a better life. It’s about respect and dignity,” Abi-Zeid said.