All youth recognize when they are not being treated fairly, such as when their turn is skipped, or if they do not get the same dessert as a sibling. No parent is a stranger to the claim, “That’s not fair!” We have developed a program that addresses issues of fairness in the realm of social interactions. FAIR is an experientially based curriculum that encourages an understanding of social injustice (social unfairness), including sexism, racism, and classism. The FAIR program is made up of five activities that may be adapted for audiences of any age.
Our FAIR mission is to help youth recognize unfairness in our society related to race, gender, and class, and to empower them to promote fairness in their everyday lives through respect for themselves and others. We believe the FAIR activities will give youth a chance to explore their thoughts and feelings about how people are alike and different by going beyond the material possessions and physical appearances we as a society often judge others by.
This webpage is designed for teachers, parents, and others who work with youth. Our hope is that the information and visual aids provided will offer adults the necessary tools to facilitate the FAIR activities. There is also an activity book in PDF format and a film based on FAIR produced by Cambridge films, both of which are free on this website. FAIR trainings are also available across the nation. Please contact Dr. Toni Zimmerman via email at Zimmerman@cahs.colostate.edu for training information.
Welcome to the Fairness Fair!