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!) It can be hard not to go against what the principal suggests you to do in the classroom, but it is your classroom and your students. I believe your journals are a great way for students to express themselves and give you input on how they feel in the class and their lives. I would definitely take Gail to the counselor to talk about what she wrote and give her the support she needs. As for what Warren said, I would maybe tone down what you have been doing and bring in more cultures, even ones not represented in the classroom that way in is more diverse and not singling out certain groups in the classroom.