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  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 looks likes "might means right" in this regard. You can not go against the principal's suggestion. You can, however, attempt to plead your case to your administration outlining the value in multi-cultural education. Talking points such as wanting to emphasize "equality" for all children and striving to remove "barriers" for students with different backgrounds by fostering a level of comfort and celebrating variety as the class learns are great ways to start. It is important that your Principal knows that individual culture influences the way we learn and think. So then to teach students effectively, we must keep cultural perspective in mind.