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's okay to emphasize similarities without forgetting that everyone is ultimately still different. Pointing out too many similarities may cause a riff between you and parents who want their child to be taught how they are different. The dialogue journals should not be stopped, however; I do think that the student's admission of considering suicide is something you should think about mentioning to the guidance counselor. As for the situation with Warren, I would recommend spending time on many different cultures represented in the classroom. Maybe then Warren won't feel singled out. I also think your methods have some value, but tweaking them for the sake of your job wouldn't be bad. Dialogue journals could be turned into "weekly writing assignments" where students will be able to choose a topic and express how they feel about it.