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 feel like there are a lot of red flags in this situation. The most crucial point is that you need to talk with the counselor immediately about Gail's suicidal thoughts. As an educator we know that small groups are effective and so are dialogue journals, however, there needs to be some etiquette discussed with the class so that these times are not taken out of control. Unfortunately you cannot change parents opinions of other races, but the presentation of the content is being presented ineffectively if you are making Warren uncomfortable. Reassessing your instructional techniques are important and toning down the multicultural lessons as well. Students should be embracing others differences, not feeling like they are being singled out for them.