Upstander
Discover what it means to be an Upstander.
/ʌpstandə/ noun
A person who speaks or acts in support of an individual or cause, particularly someone who intervenes on behalf of a person being attacked or bullied.
A person who speaks or acts in support of an individual or cause, particularly someone who intervenes on behalf of a person being attacked or bullied.
We believe every student can become an upstander, whether by challenging negative stereotypes with family, standing up to a bully in their school, or encouraging civil discourse when neighbors disagree. Students in Facing History classrooms learn about the power of individual choices to shape history and explore how each of us can participate as citizens to create a more humane, just and compassionate world. With the readings and resources collected below, we invite you and your students to discover what it means to be an Upstander.
What Difference Can a Word Make?
What encourages people to act on behalf of others? Do words have the power to influence the choices people make? In 2014, two New Jersey high-school students began a campaign to promote a word, upstander, that gave a name to a behavior that is crucial for building stronger communities and a more humane world. Read and share “What Difference Can a Word Make?” and consider what encourages people to act on behalf of others.
Bullying at School
Learn about some responses to school bullying and reflect on the power students have to make positive changes in their own school communities.
What it Takes to Be an Upstander
Marti Tippens Murphy, Executive Director of Facing History & Ourselves Memphis, recently reflected upon the nature of upstanding and what it demands of us in these times in The Daily Memphian.
Young Poll Workers as Upstanders
Learn about organizations run by young upstanders who advocate for young poll worker participation.
Meet the History-Makers of Tomorrow
Here are three inspiring stories of young women who we have no doubt will be history-makers of the future. How do we know? Read about how they are already upstanders in their communities.
Leaving a Positive Footprint
Students at a California elementary school learn about the impact of bullying and lead a cross-grade project to create a more inclusive and welcoming school community.
How to Be an Upstander: Acting against Indifference
A student describes the impact of her “Dangers of Indifference” course on her worldview and how it connects with the tenets of her faith.
If Not Me
Follow three people who credit their upstander behavior to the impact of one survivor’s story. The experience of Dr. Anna Ornstein, Hungarian survivor of Auschwitz, child psychiatrist, and author, has impacted choices of students since the 1970s.
Yellow Fever Upstanders
Learn about the ordinary citizens who volunteered to fight the yellow fever outbreak in 1878.
A Young Upstander Stands Up to Hate
Learn about a young Muslim who is working to combat antisemitism and xenophobia in his native Sweden.
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The 26th U.N. Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) that took place in Glasgow, Scotland from October to November 2021 was, in many ways, a historic event. However, even though the COP remains a crucial space for international cooperation in the fight against climate disaster, there is notable consternation over the unique burdens that various policies may place on poorer nations and those most vulnerable to adverse climate events.
Teaching about the January 6 Insurrection and its Impact on U.S. Democracy
The January 6 insurrection remains important to understand and discuss, as well as the larger questions it raises about the state of U.S. democracy. A recent poll found that 52% of young people between 18 and 29 believe that either U.S. democracy is "in trouble" or "failed," while only 7% agree that it is "healthy," further highlighting the need to teach students about democratic institutions.
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Some members of the Facing History staff are exploring these five new books published within the last year, and we invite you to explore them alongside us and share your reactions with us. These 5 titles cover essential topics from Black history with young audiences and address contemporary experiences of young Black people.
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International Holocaust Remembrance Day is Thursday, January 27th. This is a day when we remember the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, their loved ones, and the ways in which this incalculable tragedy has transformed our world. It is also a time for educators to ensure their readiness to integrate instruction on the Holocaust into their annual teaching plans.
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