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Celebrating Diversity
by Monica Hochstedler
In
1996, two schools, a continent apart, celebrated
diversity together. Wilcox Elementary School
in Kauai, Hawaii and Arlington Elementary School
in Arlington, New York collaborated on a website
project for the International Schools CyberFair (www.globalschoolhouse.org/cf/). The
schools' website, entitled “Celebrate Diversity: The
Sun and Snow Connection,” compares and celebrates
differences between the local specialties of each
location, specifically local activities and attractions
related to their freshwater ecosystems (kalama.doe.hawaii.edu/~kilohana/).
Teacher Lynne Sueoka commented that, through this project, “Hawaii and New York students and teachers saw, first hand, how technology shrinks distances between people. We found it easy to 'match' our project contributions and discovered that, although we are a continent apart, our curriculum goals are the same. We are truly in the same global classroom.” By working with one another's schools, teachers at Wilcox and Arlington were able to expand students’ worldviews and promote awareness abut and openness to diversity.
Discussions about diversity are ongoing in all sectors of society. Large corporations, small businesses, elementary schools and college campuses are all expanding and promoting diverse populations and providing diversity training to their members. But what is diversity? How can individuals, schools, organizations and countries encourage and celebrate diversity?
The University of Maryland defines diversity as "otherness, or those human qualities that are different from our own and outside the groups to which we belong, yet are present in other individuals and groups.” There are two dimensions to diversity: the qualities of an individual or group that cannot be changed, also known as primary diversity, and the qualities that can be changed, known as secondary diversity. Primary diversity categories include age, ethnicity, gender, physical abilities/qualities, race and sexual orientation. Secondary dimensions of diversity include educational background, geographic location, income, marital status, military experience, parental status, religious beliefs and work experience (Diversity At UMCP: Moving Toward Community Plan, 1995).
One way to encourage awareness of diversity in your classroom is to first explore and examine individual distinctions among people and geographies. The Wilcox and Arlington Elementary teachers provided space for their students to discover unique characteristics about their surroundings, then celebrated the diversity of the two locations. Building appreciation for differences can also be encouraged through genealogy projects. By discovering and sharing stories from the past, students can increase pride in their own uniqueness, while building appreciation for experiences different from their own.
Promoting openness to honest dialogue is also important. In Oakland, California, Dawn Kepler, an American Christian who is married to an Arab Muslim, states, “If you really want to know about Judaism or Muslims, you have to turn to someone; you can’t just read a book.” Seeds for Peace, a New York based non-profit, brings together youth from regions of conflict around the world with other youth with different backgrounds each summer at the International Camp for Conflict Resolution. The camp encourages dialogue as a means to build peacemaking skills. Amy Witt, a member of the American delegation, grew up in a predominantly Jewish community in Chicago. Before coming to the camp, she did not hear much from the Muslim side of the Middle East conflict. However, she coexisted with Muslims at the Camp for Conflict Resolution. “When others tell of their personal struggles and (you) hear stories you can’t ignore, you learn the enemy has a face. I left so many sessions in tears” (Nafeesa Syeed, “Making Peace Personal”, USA Today).
CHANGES, an organization coordinated by the Student Volunteer Outreach at the University of Pittsburgh, is another program that encourages dialogue and understanding between diverse populations of young people. Joe Greene, program coordinator, states that CHANGES “seeks to reduce prejudice in schools by uniting students from culturally, racially, economically and socially diverse backgrounds and by promoting tolerance of diversity”. During the academic school year, two urban/suburban schools partner to participate in service projects together, promote school exchanges and attend diversity and leadership workshops. The program works to develop an atmosphere of understanding and acceptance so that friendships are developed and dialogue is encouraged.
Through programs such as International Schools CyberFair, International Camp for Conflict Resolution and CHANGES, empathy, understanding and acceptance of differences are encouraged and celebrated. For teachers interested in reading about topics surrounding diversity, joining discussions on diversity or creating projects that promote discussion and celebration of diversity, the following websites offer resources and curricular ideas:
The Global SchoolNet Foundation
http://www.globalschoolnet.org/
The Foundation’s mission is for students to “develop basic and advanced literacy and communication skills, create multi-cultural understanding, and prepare them for full participation as productive and effective citizens in an increasing global economy” through online collaborative learning. They offer a variety of online programs and ideas that connect classrooms around the world
Tech Corps/Rhode Island
http://www.tcri.org/educators.htm
This site lists other websites, resources, lesson plans, journal articles and reports for educators that deal with the issue of gender equality and diversity.
Infoplease.com
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0807620.html
This online encyclopedia defines biological diversity and provides a link to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. This would be a useful link for students or teachers researching the topic of biodiversity. Administration on Aging
http://www.aoa.gov/NAIC/Notes/diversityaging.html
This is the Administration on Aging website which deals with cultural and racial diversity and aging. UC Santa Cruz Center for Research on Education Diversity and Excellence
http://www.crede.ucsc.edu/research/pdd/pdd.html
This site provides links helpful to any teacher interested in the topic of diversity. Kidlink Multicultural Calendar
http://www.kidlink.org/KIDPROJ/MCC/index.html
This unique, colorful website links to a multicultural calendar with holiday and special day descriptions provided by elementary and secondary students from around the world. Multicultural Pavilion: Resources and Dialogue for Equity in Education
http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/
If you are interested in multicultural education, this website provides a plethora of resources for teachers. Check out the “Teachers Corner”, articles on “Digital Divide and EdTech”, or links to resources for arts teachers, such as “Multicultural Song Index”, “e-Poetry” and “Film Reviews.”
Teacher Lynne Sueoka commented that, through this project, “Hawaii and New York students and teachers saw, first hand, how technology shrinks distances between people. We found it easy to 'match' our project contributions and discovered that, although we are a continent apart, our curriculum goals are the same. We are truly in the same global classroom.” By working with one another's schools, teachers at Wilcox and Arlington were able to expand students’ worldviews and promote awareness abut and openness to diversity.
Discussions about diversity are ongoing in all sectors of society. Large corporations, small businesses, elementary schools and college campuses are all expanding and promoting diverse populations and providing diversity training to their members. But what is diversity? How can individuals, schools, organizations and countries encourage and celebrate diversity?
The University of Maryland defines diversity as "otherness, or those human qualities that are different from our own and outside the groups to which we belong, yet are present in other individuals and groups.” There are two dimensions to diversity: the qualities of an individual or group that cannot be changed, also known as primary diversity, and the qualities that can be changed, known as secondary diversity. Primary diversity categories include age, ethnicity, gender, physical abilities/qualities, race and sexual orientation. Secondary dimensions of diversity include educational background, geographic location, income, marital status, military experience, parental status, religious beliefs and work experience (Diversity At UMCP: Moving Toward Community Plan, 1995).
One way to encourage awareness of diversity in your classroom is to first explore and examine individual distinctions among people and geographies. The Wilcox and Arlington Elementary teachers provided space for their students to discover unique characteristics about their surroundings, then celebrated the diversity of the two locations. Building appreciation for differences can also be encouraged through genealogy projects. By discovering and sharing stories from the past, students can increase pride in their own uniqueness, while building appreciation for experiences different from their own.
Promoting openness to honest dialogue is also important. In Oakland, California, Dawn Kepler, an American Christian who is married to an Arab Muslim, states, “If you really want to know about Judaism or Muslims, you have to turn to someone; you can’t just read a book.” Seeds for Peace, a New York based non-profit, brings together youth from regions of conflict around the world with other youth with different backgrounds each summer at the International Camp for Conflict Resolution. The camp encourages dialogue as a means to build peacemaking skills. Amy Witt, a member of the American delegation, grew up in a predominantly Jewish community in Chicago. Before coming to the camp, she did not hear much from the Muslim side of the Middle East conflict. However, she coexisted with Muslims at the Camp for Conflict Resolution. “When others tell of their personal struggles and (you) hear stories you can’t ignore, you learn the enemy has a face. I left so many sessions in tears” (Nafeesa Syeed, “Making Peace Personal”, USA Today).
CHANGES, an organization coordinated by the Student Volunteer Outreach at the University of Pittsburgh, is another program that encourages dialogue and understanding between diverse populations of young people. Joe Greene, program coordinator, states that CHANGES “seeks to reduce prejudice in schools by uniting students from culturally, racially, economically and socially diverse backgrounds and by promoting tolerance of diversity”. During the academic school year, two urban/suburban schools partner to participate in service projects together, promote school exchanges and attend diversity and leadership workshops. The program works to develop an atmosphere of understanding and acceptance so that friendships are developed and dialogue is encouraged.
Through programs such as International Schools CyberFair, International Camp for Conflict Resolution and CHANGES, empathy, understanding and acceptance of differences are encouraged and celebrated. For teachers interested in reading about topics surrounding diversity, joining discussions on diversity or creating projects that promote discussion and celebration of diversity, the following websites offer resources and curricular ideas:
The Global SchoolNet Foundation
http://www.globalschoolnet.org/
The Foundation’s mission is for students to “develop basic and advanced literacy and communication skills, create multi-cultural understanding, and prepare them for full participation as productive and effective citizens in an increasing global economy” through online collaborative learning. They offer a variety of online programs and ideas that connect classrooms around the world
Tech Corps/Rhode Island
http://www.tcri.org/educators.htm
This site lists other websites, resources, lesson plans, journal articles and reports for educators that deal with the issue of gender equality and diversity.
Infoplease.com
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0807620.html
This online encyclopedia defines biological diversity and provides a link to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. This would be a useful link for students or teachers researching the topic of biodiversity. Administration on Aging
http://www.aoa.gov/NAIC/Notes/diversityaging.html
This is the Administration on Aging website which deals with cultural and racial diversity and aging. UC Santa Cruz Center for Research on Education Diversity and Excellence
http://www.crede.ucsc.edu/research/pdd/pdd.html
This site provides links helpful to any teacher interested in the topic of diversity. Kidlink Multicultural Calendar
http://www.kidlink.org/KIDPROJ/MCC/index.html
This unique, colorful website links to a multicultural calendar with holiday and special day descriptions provided by elementary and secondary students from around the world. Multicultural Pavilion: Resources and Dialogue for Equity in Education
http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/
If you are interested in multicultural education, this website provides a plethora of resources for teachers. Check out the “Teachers Corner”, articles on “Digital Divide and EdTech”, or links to resources for arts teachers, such as “Multicultural Song Index”, “e-Poetry” and “Film Reviews.”
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The Pennsylvania Service-Learning Alliance dissolved as of June 30, 2007. The website will stay posted for one more year, so please share the resources. We are sorry that we will not be able to answer any questions you may have. Good luck with all your future service-learning endeavors!