PAYINGTRIBUTE - Operation Respect

Reviewing our last year’s accomplishments, I feel inspired and rejuvenated by the
work of Operation Respect (OR). No small factor in my continued devotion to the
work is OR’s remarkable staff and Board of Directors, as well as its many legions
of grass roots supporters everywhere. Of course, The McGraw-Hill Companies who
give us a home, a place to hang our hat, and much more, top my list as well.
This past year, within the broad educational community—mirroring the combined
perspective of the 42 educational organizations of the United Voices for
Education—the consensus is that children must be educated so that all of their developmental needs are
met: social, emotional and creative, as well as academic. Conversely, the consensus is that, if such an
educational approach—a perspective commonly referred to as whole child education—is not adopted, all
of our sincerest and most well intended efforts to improve student achievement will be destined to fail.
Additionally, it is widely recognized that a school environment plagued by fear and hostility is perhaps the
greatest enemy of student achievement. In turn, a hostile environment is a full stop sign on the path to
closing the achievement gap, an imperative goal for our country. So, for whole child education to work,
we must provide students a classroom climate that is civil, respectful, free of bullying, ridicule and other
forms of emotional and physical violence. At Operation Respect, we made this connection long ago, and
designated the creation of a nurturing, safe, school environment as our primary goal.
This annual report will give you a sense of OR’s latest achievements, ones that provide us with ongoing
evidence that we were right on target when we started. Our vision has been validated by some of our
sister organizations, many of whom have generously noted that they were inspired by our programs,
presentations and our advocacies.
This report highlights the extraordinary Tribute to Teachers honoring educators for nurturing the
development of the whole child. It features our work in sparking the United Voices for Education (UVE),
a coalition advocating for whole child policies and practices, which UVE has concluded will give America
the greatest chance to close the education gap and truly foster academic achievement. It also highlights
OR’s remarkable continuing contributions to our work by presenters and performers that include Steve
Seskin, Baby Jay, Christine Evans, and Bethany Yarrow & Rufus Cappadocia. And finally, it describes
deeper work in several New York City schools, helping to turn around these schools that have been
designated “persistently dangerous”: not only removing them from the list, but helping them to truly
transform their school climate.
Let me close by expressing my deep and sincere appreciation for your support. You are the key that
makes our magic happen. Just like Puff, who needs Jackie, we need your support for OR to do its magic.
Your support unlocks our capacity to make the difference we have made, and will continue to make, for
years to come.
I send you my deepest thanks and unabated enthusiasm, as always.
Peter Yarrow
President and Founder, Operation Respect