The Principal's Advisory Council for Preventing Prejudice(PAC) is a group of high school students, under the supervision of Mr. Scanlon and advisor Ms. Granat, whose main goal is to educate all members of the Roslyn School community about tolerance and diversity issues.  These goals are accomplished through presentations to the students at the Heights, Harbor Hill, East Hills, and Roslyn Middle and High School. PAC also participates at conferences run by the Human Rights Commission of Nassau County. This year the students presented a workshop at Hofstra University entitled, "Who Are We Really?" The purpose of the workshop was to offer an indepth look into stereotypes and the perceptions of others using D.N.A.

PAC groups visited the East Hills and Harbor Hill Elementary Schools. The students interacted with fifth grade classes and discussed issues regarding prejudice, racism, and bullying. The lesson included the "Snowflake Game," in which students learn that we are all different but all beautiful. PAC participants provided students with the tools to create a better school environment. PAC students received positive feedback from the fifth grade teachers describing how the PAC groups influenced the students and created a positive learning experience.

The objective of the next visit, the Heights' kindergarten classes, was to teach the students to be kind to everybody. This lesson used the "Lemon Exercise" to get PAC's point across. The classes were split into four groups and students were asked to describe their lemon. The lemons were then collected, put into a bag and mixed up. The task given to the kindergarten students was to try and select the exact lemon that they described. In doing so, the students realized that there was no way to be sure which lemon was theirs. This experience helped the students recognize that we are all alike even though we have certain differences.

PAC students have also made visits to other high schools to interact with students and see the similarities and differences in their school and their environment. Freeport and Herricks also made return visits to our school and the students were able to verbalize the similarities and differences in their student body.

Another aspect of PAC's work about awareness of racism and discrimination is the Anti-Bias Task Force. The Task Force meetings take place at night at the Herrick's Community Center. The members of Roslyn High School's PAC meet with fifteen other school groups on Long Island to educate and learn from each other about the issues of prejudice, discrimination, and bullying. At each meeting, one school provides a presentation, giving members new perspectives on the controversial issues concerning stereotypes and tolerance. Several subjects and concerns are addressed.

The society in which we live is bombarded with constant generalizations and stereotypes. Americans are becoming immune. The mission of PAC is to erase these stereotypes by working with the youth of Roslyn. The ultimate goal is to live in a world filled with less hatred and more harmony.