Contact: Rick Peterson, Manager of News Services, 414/832-6590 For Immediate Release June 26, 1997 Area Educators Explore Issues of Tolerance during Second Mielke Summer Institute APPLETON, WIS.-- The origins of prejudice, the ways sexuality affects art and creativity and the important role identity and positionality plays in shaping the way people view the world and the world views them will be among the issues of tolerance and intolerance examined by 25 Appleton and Shawano school district educators July 7-11 during the second annual Mielke Summer Institute in the Liberal Arts at Lawrence University. The week-long, three-graduate credit, professional development program, led by five Lawrence faculty members, is designed to expose area teachers to a liberal arts perspective through the examination of interdisciplinary themes and contemporary issues in education as well as provide collaborative approaches to teaching that can be implemented in their own schools and classrooms. "Racism, ethnic prejudice, homophobia and intolerance of all sorts remain serious problems in the world and here in the Fox Valley," said Stewart Purkey, associate professor of education at Lawrence and director of the Mielke Education Program. "I can't think of another topic today more important or worth more careful study than the issue of tolerance." Discussion and instruction will be based in part on reading materials that include Gordon Allport's "The Nature of Prejudice," "Always Running," Luis Rodriguez' autobiographical account of his life growing up in a southern California barrio and his eventual involvement with gangs, and Tony Kusher's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Angels in America." "During the week we'll explore the various ways schools promote tolerance and intolerance in issues regarding ethnicity, class and culture," said Purkey. Connie Roop, coordinator of the summer institute and a teacher at Appleton North High School, said last year's inaugural Mielke program has already produced a "ripple effect" through the Appleton and Shawano school districts. "Last year the educators took the information and incorporated the topic (on the environment) into their classrooms and curriculums in unique ways that were very exciting," said Roop. "I'm looking forward to the way this year's participating teachers not only change the way they teach, but also ultimately change the way their students view diversity in the world. Tolerance is such an important topic for both schools and society to understand." Joining Purkey as summer institute leaders will be Lawrence faculty members Peter Glick, associate professor of psychology, whose research has focused on sexists beliefs in relationships between men and women; Tim Rodgers, associate professor of art history, who teaches the interdisciplinary course "Homosexuality and Homophobia in the 20th Century;" Hazel Spears, assistant professor of psychology, a specialist in areas of diversity, tolerance and human potential; and Tim Spurgin, associate professor of English, whose interests include depictions of intolerance in movies, books and television programming. The seminar participants are required to write a paper relevant to the issue of tolerance that will be used as the basis for a follow-up discussion session October 17-19 at Bjrklunden, Lawrence's northern campus outside Baileys Harbor in Door County. The Mielke Summer Institute in the Liberal Arts was established in 1996 as part of a $1.25 million gift to Lawrence from the Mielke Family Foundation, Inc. of Appleton. In addition to the summer program, the foundation's gift also established a series of seminars organized around issues affecting education at the local, state and national levels known as the Mielke Forums on Education. Participants in the summer institute are selected by committee through a competitive application process. Appleton educators selected for this year's program, their subject matter (where applicable) and schools are as follows: Secondary Ñ Michael Breitzman, world geography/world history, Appleton East; Mary Clauss, American history/literature/composition, Appleton West; Mike Daehn, communication arts, Appleton West; Kathryn Hopp, physics, biophysical science, chemistry, Appleton West; Gerald Howard, communication arts, Appleton North; Jon McCluskey, student services coordinator/early childhood, Appleton East; Michele Missner, library media specialist, Appleton West; Sarah Paul, communication arts, Appleton West; Pamela Smith, communication arts, Appleton West; Irene Srubas, sign language interpreter, Appleton North. Middle School Ñ Beverly Bush, English, Roosevelt; Susan Duven, English, Einstein; Michelle Froehlke, U.S. history, Einstein; Kristie Moder, earth science, Madison; Sue Patschke, English and geography, Einstein; Mike Pekarske, English, history, Einstein. Elementary Ñ Nancy Freude, grades 4-6, Edison; Pamela Griesbach, school counselor, Horizons; Jennifer Griffith, music, grades 1-6, McKinley; Laura Herrmann, English as a second language, Edison; Ann VanderHeiden, 5th grade, Edison.