(Name-mce) ListServ Teachers Against Prejudice Announces 2006-2007 Annual Essay and Media Contest

[TAPOrg at aol.com]

Dear All,

I am pleased to announce that TAP's Seventh Annual Essay and Media Contest 
officially opened on October 2 and will run through December 15, 2006. The 
contest is open to all middle school and high school students throughout the world. 
 There are two separate questions - one for middle school and one for high 
school.  There are two new items this year:

1.  The questions ask students to create an original work or change an 
existing film,
     TV show, or at the middle school level, video game.  Video games are a 
part of 
     reality now - we do not expect a lot of the entries to choose this 
option but want
     that available should that speak to our students.  It will be 
interesting to see what they
     choose.

2.  At the high school level, we have given the students the option of 
submitting either
     a written work or producing a video.  We all know students learn in 
different ways
     and also, have different visions and different ways of expressing 
thoughts and 
     creativity.  We want to give everyone an equal opportunity.

You will find the information on the essay contest below.  It is also posted 
to our website: www.teachersagainstprejudice.org PLEASE feel free to share the 
information with friends and colleagues, and of course, your students.

The 2005-2006 Contest saw an increase of 30% over the previous year.  We are 
hoping for another banner year!

Should any of you wish to serve as a guest judge, please let us know by 
e-mailing: contest at teachersagainstprejudice.org and please include your contact 
phone number.


Warm regards,

Elise Klein
President
Teachers Against Prejudice

Phone: 203-801-0257
Fax: 203-801-0258
E-mail:  taporg at aol.com, elise at teachersagainstprejudice.org
Website: http://www.teachersagainstprejudice.org




Dear Principal or Language Arts Chair,
 
Please allow me to introduce myself: my name is Elise Klein and I am the 
president of TAP, Teachers Against Prejudice. We are a grassroots non-profit 
organization composed of educators, parents, and concerned citizens whose mission 
is to increase awareness and examine the causes and roots of prejudice and 
discrimination; open dialogue with students and teachers from elementary school 
through college; and promote understanding and respect for all through the 
critical exploration and analysis of films, television, and other media.
 
We are conducting our Seventh Annual International Essay and Media Contest to 
commence on October 2, 2006; the deadline is December 15, 2006. The winners 
will be notified by March 1, 2007 and, with permission, winning entries will be 
posted to our website on April 15, 2007. This contest is open to all students 
enrolled in grades 5 through 12 in public and independent schools. We will 
have two separate categories, one for middle school students (grades 5 – 8) and 
one for high school students (grades 9 – 12). The essay questions, judging 
criteria, and prizes are listed below. Winning entries from previous years can be 
viewed at: www.teachersagainstprejudice.org
 
We hope your teachers will work with their students on this important theme. 
We welcome and encourage their participation in this contest. We trust it will 
help to hone students’ critical thinking skills as well as provide a forum 
for their creativity. In addition, if you have any teachers on your staff who 
are interested in helping us judge the entries we receive, please have them 
contact us. 
 
Middle School Question
Movies TV programs and even video games often show discrimination and 
prejudice against a race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, the 
disabled, or other group of people. Some movies, TV programs and video games 
successfully demonstrate how hurtful discrimination can be. Others totally ignore 
this fact and may even increase hate and bias.
 
Write your own plot/story for a new movie, TV program, or video game or 
change the plot/story of an existing movie, TV program or video game with the goal 
of raising awareness of discrimination and prejudice. What would the name be 
for your show, film, or video game? What would your plot or story be? Include 
solutions to decrease discrimination and/or prejudice. 
 
The plot/story must not exceed 750 words, and must be typed or neatly 
written, clearly organized and answer all parts of the question.
 
 
 
 
 
High School Question
Movies and TV programs often show discrimination and prejudice against a 
race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, the disabled, or other 
group of people. Some movies and TV programs successfully demonstrate how hurtful 
discrimination can be. Others totally ignore this fact and may even increase 
hate and bias.
 
Write a short story/script or create a short video about a person/people 
facing a specific prejudice. Include the theme, setting, characters (their points 
of view/opinions) and how the characters address and/or resolve the situation.
 
Short stories/scripts must not exceed 1000 words, must be typed or neatly 
written, clearly organized, and must address all parts of the question. 
Stories/scripts may be e-mailed or sent via hard copy.
 
Videos must not exceed 10 minutes. Video entries must be sent in either 
Windows Media Player or QuickTime compatible formats and must also address all 
parts of the question. Video entries must be mailed to TAP on DVD. Do not email 
videos.
 
 
Criteria:    For contact purposes only, all students must include their name, 
home address, contact phone number, school name, school phone number and 
grade. Also include an e-mail address, if available. 
 
                 Entries will not be returned and become the property of TAP. 
                 All entries must be postmarked by December 15, 2006.
 
                 Send entries to:   
                        
                 Teachers Against Prejudice
                 58 Pine Street
                 New Canaan, CT 06840
                 contest at teachersagainstprejudice.org
 
 
Prizes:      First and second place prizes will be awarded separately for 
middle school and high school students.
 
First place: $200 U.S. Savings Bond 
Second place: $100 U.S. Savings Bond
 
Prizes of comparable value will be awarded for those who reside              
outside of the United States
 
Based on previous results, we anticipate a good response and want to make 
sure that your students are included in this timely, relevant discussion.
 
Sincerely,
 
Elise Klein
President