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 absolutely disagree with the principal. We are doing our students an injustice if we only focus on how we are similar. I do agree that there may be a more balanced approach to not have any students feeling embarrassed about their culture. These dialogue journals are a great tool into the thoughts of the students. The teacher has clearly created a classroom where there is much trust, or the students wouldn't write about these feelings in the first place. while it is very unfortunate to discover Gail is so distraught, imagine if no one ever knew until it was too late? I would propose to the principal new ways to deliver a more balanced approach to culturally sensitive topics, but I would encourage the dialogue journals as there are many more pros than cons.