Breaking the Cycle of Violence through Forgiveness

Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a permanent attitude."
Dr. Martin Luther King

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School Administrators

Here are just a few of the many responses we get from the staff and faculty at the schools where Breaking the Cycle has presented.

Dear Christoph Arnold,

It is with deep gratitude that I write you this letter. Two years ago at the Garlic Festival in Saugerties I purchased your book Endangered. In your book I finally found someone who felt as strongly as I did about the many serious issues that we as parents face today. Your book gave me strength to stand by my convictions of how to raise my daughters regardless of what mainstream society pushes as “normal”. I am an English teacher at Wallkill High School and on March 21^st was delighted to hear you speak at my school. I wish to thank you for sharing your words of peace and spreading the message of mindful lovingness with our students and faculty. You are an inspiration to anyone who wishes for our world to be a more loving and gentler place to live. My students and myself spent the next day discussing the topic of forgiveness and nonviolence. We talked about forgiveness on a personal level and then moved into a discussion on forgiveness on a national and international level. I must say that it was one of the more powerful class discussions that we had all year. The students relayed to me that they were deeply moved by both Detective McDonald’s and your words. I strongly urge you to continue to reach out to our nation's youth and spread your words of peace in these very uncertain times. I deeply admire you for being a beacon of truth and wisdom in a world that seems clouded in greed and materialism. May Christ’s light continue to shine through you and may you inspire others to find the divinity in themselves to change, to forgive, and to become more loving.

Sincerest Appreciation,
Charles Tedduni, Teacher, Wallkill High School - School Administrators

On behalf of myself and the Board of Education, I want to thank you and let you know how grateful we are for your work in bringing your outstanding assembly to the Dover students and staff. At the board meeting following the assembly, we had a number of parents tell us how the assembly affected their children. They were also thrilled about the books.

Over the last week, UI have seen a number of students sitting in the hall or in the library reading “Why Forgive?” and engaged with the text. I am confident your time and energy will have a lasting impact. The speakers were so personable and non-finger waving. It was refreshing to our students when I asked their opinions.

Thank you for providing such a quality program to our students; we are very grateful.

Respectfully,

Michael Tierney
Mr Michael Tierney, Superintendent of Schools, Dover Union Free School District - School Administrators

I have had wonderfully positive feedback from our kids and staff about the presentation. I wish I could take those precious moments and the positive energy that we shared as one people, with a common vision of a better world, and bottle it up and sell it as a tonic to people who have lost their way about what is truly important in this world. Your program helped our kids see a clear path to a happier life and a better world where all the world's people feel supported and cared for. What a beautiful message.
Ken Chichester, Principal
Northwestern Regional High School - School Administrators

The students and faculty of Martin Luther King, Jr. High School are striving for academic excellence in an atmosphere that promotes non-violence and unity. During the month of January, we concentrated our efforst on exploring the role that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. plays in our lives. Your willingness to bring this program to our school helped in these efforts. The assembly program held on January 7, 2003 was a huge success. Judging from the reaction of the students and their comments, I know that Mr. Johann Christoph Arnold's presentation on the life and philosophy of Detective Steven McDonald and Dr. King had a great impact on them. Several students have already finished reading Mr. Arnold's biography, "Why Forgive" and have made a point to discuss their thoughts with me. I wish to express my gratitude to you for bringing this program to our school. In addition, I want to thank you for your generous contribution of copies of Mr. Arnold's two books, "Why Forgive?" and "Be Not Afraid", given to all students.
Dr. Enid Margolies, Principal
Martin Luther King Jr. High School, New York, NY - School Administrators

On behalf of the students and staff of Mepham High School, I want to thank you for the wonderful program that you facilitated for us this week. Every member of our school community benefited from the presentation. The Message Detective McDonald and Mr. Arnold presented on forgiveness is an important and powerful message for us all but especially for our young people. Numerous students and staff expressed appreciation for our having invited you to present at Mepham. I received many positive comments from some of the least likely students. These students seemed truly inspired. In short, I am certain that the presentation had a very beneficial effect on everyone. Thank you for being instruments of peace and non-violence and making sure that as many as possible hear that forgiveness is the answer. I wish you continued success.
John F. Didden, Principal
W. C. Mepham High School, Bellmore, NY - School Administrators

I would like to take this opportunity, in the spirit of good cheer and thankfulness, to extend our thanks as a school (students and staff) for the excellent assembly program on October 1, 2002. The touching remarks were so well received that numerous students have responded positively and encouraged others to read the words of the book "Why Forgive" and act on them. The staff has responded as well and requested sets of books for classroom use. We are so pleased and appreciative and would seriously enjoy having you return next year for Respect Day.
Marcia B. Rochester, Dean
Westbury High School, Old Westbury, NY - School Administrators

On behalf of the students and staff here, please allow me to thank you for your visit and presentation on March 27, 2003. Needless to say we often present programs that teach non-violence to our students. However, your presentation was truly unique in that you are challenging our youngsters to practice non-violence from the perspective of forgiveness. I know that this is an approach that students do not often encounter

The students and staff were overwhelmed. Their classroom teachers had follow-up discussions on the program as well as the books distributed. We strive as educators to teach by example. What better way to do this than through your most memorable presentation along with the wonderful books? My best wishes to you in your work with youngsters. We hope that you will consider Bayard Rustin High School for the Humanities as one of your partners in your magnificent message of love and forgiveness.
Phyllis Marino, Principal
Bayard Rustin High School for the Humanities, New York, NY - School Administrators