Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: I Wish I Were Black! As a teacher of 5th grade students, I try to make sure that my students have a good sense of all the people and cultures that make up this country. Last couple weeks, I paid special attention to the African American people who have made significant contributions to the US. We read a book written by Walter Dean Myers. We have studied scientists, writers, and political figures. Students were very engaged and interested in the content. Yesterday something happened that puzzled me. Three of my White students told me that they wished they were Black. This was not my intention when I planned all my lessons on contributions of African Americans. How should I address this issue? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I feel as if the students may have been confused by the point of the lessons. They may have thought that one race was superior to another and as a result wish to emulate what they percieve as superior. I would pull the students aside and discuss that we are all equal, and equally important. I wholeheartedly agree with this approach to delivering multiculturalism to the classroom, and helping students to understand the wonderful achievements of all cultures and peoples.