DASA Workshop Experience

       On November 11th, 2019, I attended the state-mandated DASA workshop on Molloy's campus.  I had selected this particular workshop because Rev. Dr. Marjorie Schiering was running it.  True to form, Rev. Schiering made the workshop engaging and dynamic, allowing the 7 hours to fly by.  The picture above is of a poster I made during the workshop, reflecting on the experience.  I chose to focus on one of the ending statements Rev. Schiering provided "Life is not about what you get, but what you give", a fitting quote for the teaching profession.

       Something Rev. Schiering emphasized during the DASA workshop was how The Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) only protects students, NOT school employees.  Therefore, as a future teacher, I am not protected by the Dignity Act.
       Another surprising fact I learned was the lack of awareness about DASA among parents, students, and school employees.  Honestly, I was also uninformed about what DASA entailed and how it benefitted students.  However, after attending the DASA workshop, I feel more knowledgeable and prepared for if/when I might encounter situations involving DASA as an education professional.

       One of my favorite parts of the workshop was reading the article "How to Accept an Apology".  It sparked a conversation on when it is appropriate to accept an apology, and how we often readily accept insincere apologies we probably should not.

       As teachers, no matter what subject we specialize in, we all teach character in our classrooms.  How to apologize, when to accept an apology, and how we treat each other is learned in the classroom.  Similarly, whether or not we uphold DASA expresses to our students our character, to provide all students an environment free from harassment, bullying, and discrimination.