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!) Your principal is only trying to do what he perceives as best for the situation--and that is helping your students by not voicing such strong opinions, as in Gail's case. Is this fair? Absolutely not. He is not advocating for multicultural education, which sadly, is a norm in our schools today. I would obey your principal's orders; however, in the mean time, I would ask to have a sit down meeting with him and explain your position. Tell him why you implemented the use of such journals and together, see if the two of you could work out a compromise--one where you still get to embrace such cultures in the classroom, but maybe in a more private manner. I would also set up a meeting with Gail's parents and explain that you are also having her to see the counselor. Her parents could really make a difference in this case.