Respect For All Week At Forest Hills High School

Earlier this month, City Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, D-Forest Hills, participated in “Respect For All Week” at

Taking place between Feb. 14 and 18, the program helps students relate to their peers who may have had divergent life experiences or abilities.

In addition to hearing from Koslowitz, nearly 100 students at the school also were on hand for a speech from Dr. Arthur Flug, Director of Operations at the Harriet & Kenneth Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center at Queens College.

Flug’s remarks centered around the dangers of hate crimes and hate speech, while Koslowitz encouraged leadership from the students at the high school.

During Flug’s presentation, he often brought students into the discussion with audience participation scenarios and videos.

Ultimately, the goal of the event was to make sure high school-aged students had a firm understanding of the definition, gravity and punishments for hate crimes.

"Respect for All Week is a wonderful way to discuss and challenge hate and intolerance in our city,” Koslowitz said. “Despite an early morning conversation at Forest Hills High School, the students were wide awake and engaged as Dr. Flug conducted his presentation.”

Koslowitz also credited the school’s administration for helping to make the city’s “Respect For All Week” a success.

"I would like to thank Dr. Arthur Flug and the Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center along with Principal Saul Gootnick and Assistant Principal for Social Studies Carrie Sanchez for their hard work and contribution to ‘Respect for All Week.’" said Koslowitz.