4 and 5-year-olds learn, teach tolerance through self portraits
5/8/2001 9:35 AM

The students of Saint Paul’s J.J. Hill Montessori School, 998 Selby Ave., recently learned that there is no such thing as black and white skin, and they have 250 painted portraits to prove it. During two special ceremonies at 11:15 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 11, the Pre-K and Kindergarten classes will install a six-yard canvas depicting their own likenesses.

Children used acrylic paints to learn that skin color is not just black and white but a mixture of magenta, ochre, burnt sienna, emerald green and crimson. Children were asked to describe their own skin color, with the only rule being that the color name they choose not be an existing color (e.g. peach, orange, brown, etc.) and the name they assign to their skin color must have a positive association for them. The project is a result of a collaborative effort between J.J. Hill Montessori School, Teaching Tolerance, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)-St. Paul and The St. Paul.

The canvas portrait installation wraps up the first year of a two-year Teaching Tolerance project in Saint Paul. The program is an educational component of Southern Poverty Law Center, and is organized and volunteered locally by National Council of Jewish Women, St. Paul section (NCJW). The program receives funding from The St. Paul.

Please contact Lisa Lane, NCJW Teaching Tolerance Chairperson for more information at (651) 699-1035 or lisglane@mindspring.com.

To contact J.J. Hill Montessori School, call (651) 293-8720.