Five Windham High School students tackled complex and thought-provoking conversations with peers from five area high schools during a special event at Yarmouth High School on Friday, Jan. 31. Through open discussions, they embraced diverse perspectives, honed their listening skills, and felt inspired to take meaningful action based on their experiences.
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| Windham High senior Abigail Dumont, center, listens to two students from other schools as they share thoughts about hard topics at the Yarmouth High School Civil Tea gathering. Dumont and four other WHS students who attended the event say they were inspired by the experience and plan to invite the Yarmouth High club to WHS in the future. PHOTO BY LORRAINE GLOWCZAK |
WHS students voluntarily participated in the Can We? Project, which has been running for three years.
When the invitation arrived from YHS, five dedicated WHS Can We? participants eagerly accepted, ready to engage in a respectful exchange of ideas and broaden their understanding of important social issues.
“I have been involved with the Can We? Project since it first came to Windham,” WHS junior Gemma Evans said. “I have always believed in the goal of the project, so seeing another extension of the project was an opportunity I couldn't miss.”
Evans said that the Civil Tea Club kept the general mood of the Can We? Project, but made it more intimate.
Jen Dumont, WHS Teacher and JMG Specialist, is the school’s Can We? Project Liaison. She said that the students share a passion for social justice and a strong desire to contribute to their communities. She is proud of her students' abilities to be respectful among any differing opinions.
“I wasn't concerned at all about challenges, such as strong disagreements or emotional reactions because over the past few years, facilitating the Can We? Project, I have consistently witnessed students come together and successfully navigate complex conversations with differing perspectives,” she said.
The students agreed, saying it was good to hear different opinions and to gain different perspectives.
“When one of my group members had a different opinion than I did, I listened intently, I did not get angry or interrupt, I just listened,” WHS Senior, Abigail Dumont said. “As the conversation went on, I circled back around to the topic and let him know why I felt the way that I did. I did not try to change his opinion.”
WHS junior Kendra Eubanks agreed, saying that she has never felt so respected from both sides of the political spectrum as she did at Yarmouth’s Civil Tea Club.
“It made me feel heard and accepted,” she said. “I wish America could come together and talk about their different point of views respectfully and hear the other side and not make it turn into an argument. I feel that all political sides were heard at the Civil Tea.”
Jen Dumont said that the intent is never to have anyone's perspective change, but rather to facilitate a deeper understanding of the topic, relying on active listening, candid and vulnerable sharing of personal story, and empathy.
WHS senior Brooklyn Boucher said she enjoys having tough conversations and explained how she does that.
“Instead of listening to respond, it's very important to just listen,” Boucher said. “Not everything needs a response. It was at first hard to hear people with different opinions than mine, but this experience has truly changed my way of thinking about politics, in the way of not always looking for a right or wrong but understanding that everyone has a reason to believe the things they do, and to hear that instead of belittling others. It can open your knowledge to both ends of issues. I really emphasize the saying “I hear you” because a simple agreement like “oh yea” or a head nod can be just brushed over, and sometimes it’s just nice to be told that every word you said was heard by someone in the group.”
Jen Dumont says that she couldn’t be prouder of her students for their participation.
“Every student reflected that the experience was tremendously powerful and impactful. As an educator, any opportunity I can provide students to engage in authentic, solution-oriented dialogue is critical for their personal growth and self-confidence. Seeing the students so inspired after an event is truly edifying, and it provides much hope and faith in regard to this next generation of leaders.” <
