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!) Wow. You've got a lot going on. To begin with, I disagree with your principal's suggestions. I don't think it would be a good idea to stop using dialogue journals, decrease small groups, and de-emphasize multicultural aspects of your classroom. I also think it would be naive to think that your students don't already see their differences, so I don't think you would accomplish anything by not acknowledging student differences. I think you should continue doing what you are doing. When you read information, just as suicide, you should contact your school counselor or follow any protocols that your school puts in place. Regardless, I think introducing students to the inequalities they may face in the real world, you are preparing them to handle situations properly.