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! I feel as if your principle does not want to deal with this issue that definitely could use attention, so by abandoning the journals we can act like there is no problem. When we look at stories in reading books we always look for similarities and differences. When we discuss wars in history we describe and examine similarities and differences in the two armies. We are taught as teachers to have students dig in and look at the whole picture, by taking it apart to make a larger picture. If we teach students only the similarities that exist among different cultures or races then we are telling kids that we are all the same and we do not highlight what makes us special; we are denying them their heritage. I would discuss my reasons behind my teaching and prove its benefits by providing research. I would then talk with the school counselor for suggestions on reaching out to these two students and how you can help them feel better about who they are.