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!) I think it is important that students have an outlet, the dialog journals, to express how they feel. After all, had Gail not mentioned her suicidal thoughts to you she may not still be alive. So I disagree with many of the comments that suggest that you should limit the topics. Gail was having suicidal thoughts whether she has the chance to express it or not. However, with all that said, you cannot go against your boss - so you must make a change in your practices. I would adjust small things until he was satisfied. Keep him informed of any topics that could be controversial. Leaders tend to panic when they are caught off guard and they make rash decisions in these moments. Keeping your boss well-informed will help. He will loosen the reigns when he starts to trust you again. DO NOT just give up. You are doing a great thing by making your students more culturally aware. And sometimes that is uncomfortable, like for Warren. Many students feel uncomfortable talking about their differences because we are taught to ignore these things- and that's not okay either. We must find a balance.