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Educator’s View: How an Art Project Bridged Differences for 800 Tennessee Kids

Students at my middle school come from 34 countries & speak 24 languages. Our American flag collage brought them together & celebrated their diversity

West Collierville Middle School’s “United We Stand” collage. (Andrea Bridge)

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The United States is an incredible melting pot of people, languages and cultures — a testament to the values our nation was built on. As an educator who has taught all over the country, I’ve seen firsthand the rich, yet complex tapestry of American communities. 

At West Collierville Middle School in Tennessee, our student body reflects the diversity that defines America. We have students from 34 countries who speak 24 languages. Last August, as always, the art teachers, including myself, started the school year with a collaborative project. But this time, we aspired to make a more profound impact by involving as many student artists as possible.

Although Americans have opportunities to recognize and celebrate what makes our schools, communities and country so special, division still exists in our nation. Such division was growing more apparent to my colleagues and me in the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election.

This, in part, led to our decision to have all of our art students participate in the international Students Rebuild Spark Peace Project. This project invites young people around the globe to use their power and creativity to build a more peaceful world. We wanted our students to take part in something that could help them realize what binds us all together. 

We created the “United We Stand” collage together, consisting of individual 6-inch red, white and blue squares created by over 800 students. When combined, they form a large image of the American flag.

But this is no ordinary flag. Inspired by artists Jasper Johns and Norman Rockwell, we encouraged students to express what peace, hope and love mean to them personally. Some students included patriotic symbols, while others drew flags from their countries of origin. 

One student, shy at first, asked, “Can I draw a picture of my home?” My answer was a resounding, “Yes!” This project was about honoring each student’s unique perspective and life experiences while showcasing the strength and unity of not only our class, but our school, community and nation. 

The project’s collaborative nature allowed students to connect not only with their classmates, but with kids from different grade levels in the school. For some, it was the first time they were given the freedom to express their creativity in a way that felt so meaningful. Before the pandemic, students had dedicated time for art in the classroom, so being able to create together in person again was extremely powerful for them.

One student artist described drawing a hamburger — something quintessentially American. Another captured a memory of family gatherings, intertwining it with the project’s red, white and blue theme.

This openness to individual expression is vital. By embracing the personal interpretations and representations of each of their peers, students can see and understand one another’s culture and background. This, in turn, allows them to appreciate and value each other’s uniqueness. Through classroom discussions about the project and the students’ conversations with one another as they each designed a piece to contribute to the collage, they learned that peace is not just the absence of conflict, but also the active celebration of diversity. The lesson extended far beyond my classroom. Students from different art classes and grade levels who might not have interacted otherwise found similarities, realizing they had more in common than they initially thought.

Educators are uniquely positioned to shape how young people engage with one another and the world. In times of change or transition, it is essential to equip students with tools that foster understanding, compassion, kindness and cooperation. Creative projects like the “United We Stand” collage provide these opportunities. Cooperative projects teach students to work collaboratively and think critically, work together and express themselves authentically — skills essential for building healthy relationships and a more peaceful, united future.

This message of “United We Stand” was especially resonant during a divisive election year, and it remains so as Americans prepare for the changes that will likely occur now that President Donald Trump has been inaugurated. Yet, this opportunity allowed our school community time to focus on what brings us together and unites us. Through this art project, the students demonstrated that unity doesn’t mean uniformity. In fact, it allowed them to weave their unique stories into a shared narrative that strengthens the fabric of their entire community.

The collage now hangs in the main hallway of our school. It serves as a daily reminder of the power of collective effort and the beauty of diversity. It’s a testament to what we, as teachers and students, but also as Americans, can achieve when we focus on connection rather than conflict.

Stories like these offer a glimmer of hope, serving as true reminders that the next generation holds the promise of a more compassionate, understanding world. Nurturing potential through education prioritizes and helps to grow empathy, creativity and inclusivity.

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