Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: I Wish I Were Black! As a teacher of 5th grade students, I try to make sure that my students have a good sense of all the people and cultures that make up this country. Last couple weeks, I paid special attention to the African American people who have made significant contributions to the US. We read a book written by Walter Dean Myers. We have studied scientists, writers, and political figures. Students were very engaged and interested in the content. Yesterday something happened that puzzled me. Three of my White students told me that they wished they were Black. This was not my intention when I planned all my lessons on contributions of African Americans. How should I address this issue? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I think it is great that students are being introduced into different cultures and that they are accepting of those cultures, so much so that they wish to be like them. However it is important to remind students the beauty of diversity and just because you admire a certain culture does not mean you need to change who you are. They can spread their new knowledge about African American people in hopes that they may open the eyes of others. It would be interesting to know why these students may have wanted to be black. This would continue the lesson and it would be a great classroom discussion. I think a good lesson closer would be to explain what other different cultures that will be discussed through the year and students could even keep a running graphic organizer to compare other cultures.