Teaching Tolerance Wins Nine EdPress Awards

Teaching Tolerance, a program of the Southern Poverty Law Center, won an unprecedented nine awards, including Periodical of the Year, from the Association of Educational Publishers on Friday in Washington, D.C.

"This represents the fine work of many, many talented people," said Brian Willoughby, managing editor ofTeaching Tolerance magazine, which is sent free to 600,000 educators.

"Our curriculum specialists, our writers, our incredible design team -- all work together to provide teachers with the tools to reduce prejudice and improve intergroup relations in the nation's schools and classrooms."

Winners were chosen from nearly 1,300 entries submitted by highly regarded educational publications including Weekly Reader, National Geographic, Time magazine's student edition and the Smithsonian.

"These awards represent significant and excellent achievement in the educational publishing industry," said Jo-Ann McDevitt, president of the EdPress Board of Directors, introducing the awards at a banquet. "They carry genuine weight and prestige in the education community."

Of 18 nominations, the Center's Teaching Tolerance and design departments won eight other awards including:

• Most Improved Periodical for Teaching Tolerance magazine.
• Best Comprehensive Curriculum Package for Mighty Times: The Children's March, an educational kit recounting the nonviolent uprising of Birmingham's youth to challenge segregation. The kit includes a teacher's guide and a classroom version of the Academy Award-winning documentary film.
• Best Instructional Booklet and best Whole Publication for Speak Up! Responding to Everyday Bigotry.
• Best magazine cover for "Bully on the Bus."
• Best magazine article design for "GameFace."
• Best magazine illustration for "Caroline is a Boy."
• Best magazine editorial award for Willoughby's "Lessons of Tolerance."