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 use journals in my classroom, and they are very insightful for me to understand what my students are thinking. However, it is evident that you are having difficulties. I would provide students with topics to write about. When you give students free reign of what to write about, they often tell things that you do not need or want to know. Before I began giving students topics, I also allowed them to free write. A girl in my class wrote that she thought she was pregnant. When something like this and the example you provided about the girl contemplating suicide, it is important to go to the counselor. This is very important to not only cover your butt, but also to seek help for these students. At a young age, students have trouble handling difficult issues themselves. However, once I gave students a topic, I began getting very useful responses. As a teacher, it is important to build relationships with your students, in order for them to feel comfortable in your class. With journals, you can find out a lot about their interests, which can help you build those relationships. For Warren, I would definitely talk to him and ask him how you could change your approach to African American culture. Also, I would find some research that suggests the importance of multicultural aspects in class. You should be able to provide examples of why you feel it is necessary to include this aspect in your class. I would also make a point to explain that you are not so much pointing out differences as you are trying to make your students more culturally aware.