ABSTRACT
A six-month study of race relations in three public schools was conducted by People For the American Way in 1994. This study was entitled Invisibles: A Study of Racial Division and the Challenge of Building Bridges in the St. Paul, MN Area Schools. This study took place in three public school districts in the Midwest, and found deteriorating race relations and disturbing tensions in the schools. There were also high rates of harassment, a tenuous peace, a lack of a sense of community, and the experiencing of unfair treatment. Out of this study came The Invisible Walls Project where university students are paired with a partner and trained to be facilitators of weekly discussions about racism, sexism, prejudice, and discrimination in secondary school classrooms. This article outlines the program, discusses some of the issues, and highlights some of the comments made by students and teachers.
