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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!)
Your journals should not be stopped. Students are allowed to write about what they want and are providing you useful information about the students in your class. The principal does not seem to have a good grasp on the importance of multicultural education. Perhaps you could meet with your principal again to discuss the importance of what you are doing. Make sure to use research and examples of multicultural lessons to support your position. Finally, you cannot ignore what is going on with both Warren and Gail. They need to be referred to the school counselor and their journals need to be monitored for additional signs of concern.