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  Case: Culture, Religion, & Diet
I taught fifth graders in a public school in a military community. Each year, (to my delight)the principal assigned me as many Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students(CLDS)as he could. One year Shalma, an Islamic student, joined the class in the spring. She was the first known Islamic student to enroll in the school. Two pertinent facts: 1. Salma wore the traditional Hijab and abaya each day. 2. I had informed the cafeteria staff about Salma's dietary laws and needs(including that fact that she was not to even touch unclean foods nor eat anything that touched it). One day Shalma was served ham in the cafeteria. She explained that she could not eat it and was told, "Well, just take it off and eat the rest." Quantasha, an African American peer who was next in line told Ms. Deb, the cafeteria staff member, "She can't just take it off. It's unclean to her. You have to make her a new lunch. Quantasha was sent to the principal's office for disrespecting Ms. Deb, and the whole class was put on silent lunch. When I returned, I inquired of the paraprofessional in charge why the class was given silent lunch. She informed me that they were loud and rude to the lunchroom staff. What can be done to prevent this kind of situation from happening?
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
Lunchroom staff must be informed of special dietary concerns of students who intend to eat lunch prepared by school nutrition. The nutrition department should be provided literature on customs and respect the customs of all students. In addition, this is a culturally teachable moment for the class to learn and better understand different cultures.
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this
Rated On: February 26, 2015 5:57 pm
Rated By: aSaByN
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: .
Rated On: November 3, 2015 8:35 pm
Rated By: yDyjuB
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No
The suggested solution is relevant to the case No
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement No
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue No
The suggested solution is original No
Comments: Just because you give someone literature doesn't mean they'll read it. They probably won't.
Rated On: March 2, 2016 10:02 pm
Rated By: daPaJa
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I agree wholeheartedly! This should be no different than serving a student with a food allergy. As an individual who keeps kosher I would be quite offended if told to just "take it off and eat the rest" myself.
Rated On: October 16, 2016 2:40 am
Rated By: uvuVas
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I agree
Rated On: February 21, 2018 5:23 pm
Rated By: uJyGep
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: This solution addresses using the incident as an opportunity to teach the students about different cultures. The students are most likely confused after this experience and it definitely seems like a good time to teach them about all that occurred here- as well as the misunderstanding that seems to have occurred between Ms. Deb and Quantasha.
Rated On: February 25, 2018 7:52 pm
Rated By: eguPud
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: Diets and allergies must be known throughout schools or something serious could happen like here
Rated On: February 24, 2020 2:07 am
Rated By: yHuDav