Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: De-emphasize Differences. I was recently assigned to the middle school in the Warren School District. The district serves a community that had once been an all-white middle-class enclave, but has recently become more diverse in its ethnic makeup. I am very interested in multicultural education. I instituted the use of dialog journals in my adviser group, telling the students that they can write anything they want. Some journal entries cause me concern. Warren Jackson, an African American, complains that my emphasis on African American culture embarrasses him. Gail Smith, a white girl, writes that her parents object strongly to her affection for Warren Jackson and that she is considering suicide. My problems come to a head in my first meeting with the principal. The principal suggests that I decrease his use of small groups, that I abandon my dialogue journals, and that I de-emphasize the multicultural aspects of my classes. He suggests that I emphasize similarities, not differences. I don't know what to do. I do think that my methods have some value but I cannot go against my principal. Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I love the idea of incorporating dialog journals into the lesson. The students are able to write down there thoughts without everyone being about to read them or know what they are thinking. I think it would be great to also incorporate conferences. After reading their journals you can conference with them about that thought and feelings. This would be a great time to talk to Warren about his worries and embarrassments about talking about his culture. In the situation of Gail, I would definitely contact the counselor. She is trained and knows what to do in a situation like that. But at the end of the day if your principle does not support what you are doing then you really need to reconsider doing something else. You can even go back and tell him what you thing the benefits of teaching multicultural educations and dialog journal. But if he still doesn't support you then I would listen to him and not do it.