Not in Our Town and Not in Our School
Working closely alongside Facing History and Ourselves, Not in Our School spent the past year documenting student efforts to address issues of concern in their schools.
From posting positive messages on Facebook to taking on a social action project or simply speaking out against bullying, students across the nation have taken a step towards tolerance and acceptance with the guidance of their teachers.
Explore Facing History's Work with Not in Our Town
Not in Our Town
The Not In Our Town (NIOT) project was launched in 1995 with a national PBS special that told the story of how citizens of Billings, Montana joined forces to respond to hate crimes in their town.
Their story helped create a new “model” for community response to bigotry and intolerance. Not In Our Town and its follow-up programs have been used in hundreds of communities during times of crisis.
Not In Our Town Website
NIOT’s website features the latest national and local news, blog posts, new videos, and community events from the Not In Our Town movement.
Choosing to Participate Exhibit
Not in Our Town is part of Facing History and Ourselves Choosing to Participate multimedia exhibit.
Not In Our Town Lesson Ideas from Facing History
Can be used to help students explore issues such as hate crimes, civic participation and universe of obligation.
Not in Our Town: Light in the Darkness
Not In Our Town: Light in the Darkness is a one-hour documentary about a town coming together to take action after anti-immigrant violence devastates the community.
Facing History Educator Viewing Guide: Light in the Darkness
The Educator Viewing Guide helps teachers integrate the film Not In Our Town: Light in the Darkness and the critical issues it poses into a classroom setting.
After Immigrant's Murder, Filmmaker Patrice O'Neill Captures a Town's Struggle to Create Safety for All
Interview with Filmmaker Patrice O’Neill.
Not in Our Town: Class Actions
Not In Our Town: Class Actions profiles students and community members who are creating change in the wake of racism, anti-Semitism, and the traumatic consequences of bullying. Narrated by Yul Kwon, the half-hour documentary debuted on Feb. 13, 2012 on PBS stations.
In the heart of the South, students at the University of Mississippi question whether traditions tied to the Confederacy and segregation continue to belong on their campus.
As Indiana University students celebrate the holiday season, the sense of calm is shattered by a series of attacks against Jewish institutions.
On the edge of the Mojave Desert in California, educators, political leaders, and students face the dangers of bullying after teen suicides devastate two nearby towns.
Not in Our School
Not In Our School (NIOS) is a peer-to-peer learning program that uses film and storytelling to encourage safety and inclusion.
NIOS videos and online action tools open the conversation about bigotry and harassment, and engage students and teachers in activities that promote respect and acceptance for all.
Not in Our School on NIOT.org
Action plans, FAQ, lesson ideas, videos, and more.
Not in Our School Lesson Ideas on FacingHistory.org
Teaching strategies, assignments and next steps, related resources.
Making a Difference: A Facing History and Ourselves Self-Paced Workshop
Self-paced workshop for teachers lets educators explore the NIOT and NIOS programs and resources through a structured, take-at-your-pace review.
Not in Our School: Students Stand Up
In recent years, our country has witnessed a string of suicides by teens and young adults who had been relentlessly bullied.
In New York, California, and Mississippi, high school students have committed heinous murders spurred by racism, anti-gay bigotry, and intolerance. Reports of harassment are at an all-time high. The statistics are heartbreaking, but there’s something we can do.
Short Films with Lesson Ideas
New Immigrants Share Their Stories
A Video and Lesson Plan featuring an innovative program for new immigrants in Queens, N.Y.
Stand Up, Stand Out: No Checking, No Capping, No Bullying
A Video and Lesson Plan on an anti-bullying campaign to stop the hurtful practice of "checking" - tossing insults at their peers, spearheaded by students in Memphis, Tennessee.
No Human Being Was Born Illegal
A Video and Lesson Plan inspired by the effort of Los Angeles students to stop the use of the "I"-word (illegal) and make their school more welcoming to immigrants.
Students Map Bully Zones to Create a Safer Schools
A Video and Lesson Plan showcasing how high school students in Ohio took back their campus by mapping bully zones and creating lunchtime flash mobs to bring visibility to verbal, physical and cyberbullying.
Students Take on Cyberbullying
A Video and Lesson Plan on a Facebook campaign to spread positive messages, invented to counter cyberbullying by Watchung, N.J. students.
Teachers in the Facing History Educator Network can also borrow Not in Our Town films from our lending libarary.
Not In Our Town and Not In Our School are projects of The Working Group, a national movement that encourages community response to hate. Since 1995, The Working Group has produced more than 80 films that combine PBS broadcast, grassroots events, educational and online tools and activities to help communities stand up to hate and learn from each other. The Working Group’s most recent TV special, Not In Our Town: Class Actions, premiered on PBS on Feb. 13, 2012.
Facing History and Ourselves is an international educational and professional development organization whose mission is to engage students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice, and antisemitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry.
The Not in Our School Initiative is a collaboration of Not in Our Town and Facing History and Ourselves and is made possible through the generosity of the Einhorn Family Charitable Trust.