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!) Middle school is a very important time in young adolescents' lives as they are figuring out who they are in life as well as considering experimenting with different aspects in life. While part of me believes that middle school aged students like to rebel against their parents' beliefs/standards, the other part of me thinks that there may be some truth to the situation. If Warren Jackson feels that he is embarrassed by African American culture in class, then discuss with him why he feels embarrassed toward the subject-- is it because he is in a mainly white school? Is it the content of what you are teaching? If Gail Smith is emphasizing that she loves Warren Jackson and is considering suicide, then that is when you as the teacher seek outside help from a counselor in regards to her suicide threats. If you do not report this and something happens to Gail, then you are going to be held partly responsible for not reporting a student in danger. As always, a teacher must follow the guidance of his or her administrator. Perhaps toning down the dialogue journals would help alleviate some of the issues. Perhaps a hand-on assignment in class would help students realize that racism is "not cool." Try looking at some events/situations from the past so that students can relate. I would even go as far as finding celebrities that students can relate to in regards to racism.