Do you feel that schools should participate in diversity months?

I am learning constantly, I consider myself to be a life long learner. I don't take offense easily, but your choice of words comes across as minimizing to a population that you have not seen or experienced. The truth is, our nation is a wide variety of people that are immigrants of some form. Everyone here migrated here from another nation with the exception of those that have traced their heritage to this land directly (native americans) other than them, we all have history from another land. The reason it is important to me as a person with heritage from Africa is because history is something we ALL need to learn from in order to be educated fully. If you feel that the groups represented in heritage learning are not fully inclusive, maybe you should advocate for the heritage that you see underrepresented. This discussion could go on all day, but as long as it is something I am passionate about I will speak out supporting it. We have been blessed in this nation to be able to speak freely. In that right we are able to voice our opinions and seek the opinions of others. I feel that this exchange is healthy. Despite the differences I think in conversing about it we are creating diversity right here in this group. I honor the words you choose without being rude or condescending. I hope that you are able to do the same. I'm not here to argue, simply to learn how we can honor cultures in schools. This is about more than just race.

As I mentioned in previous statements in this dialog, I was exposed to several cultures other than my own. I attended a German Immersion school, we had global programs at the school, including my favorite India week. I participated in German Dance Groups and German Fest every summer in elementary school. And I participated in several programs that focused on African traditions. I am seeking programming that will reflect this diversity for my own children. In the Milwaukee area some of these programs still exist, but are difficult to find. So I am wondering if there are any stories of unique cultural experiences you recall other than your own? And what about the experiences of cultural programs that you are a part of? Just some things I wonder about.

See-I don't get that it's a challenge in this country at all. Perhaps a few small groups here and there-I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, but for the most part-we celebrate diversity everyday.
What creeps me out is how eager some are to pick and choose for me and my kids which groups to celebrate, learn about, respect and which not to. I'm just not into selecting any group for any reason. I don't think anyone should be given a gold ribbon or made to wear a gold star. Instead of pointing out differences-we need to focus on being American. Hello-how are we doing in the world market, are our graduates equal to or better than those of other countries, are we safe from terrorists or nations who want to bully us? Let's concentrate on educating our nations future first. Hope you got a chance to learn something!

Thank you for sharing your views. I am not at all offended, just continuing the dialog, and seeking understanding. Why does it creep you out? These are things I am curious about.

And yes it was part of my upbringing. So I do find heritage and history to be relevant and important.

I agree there should be time for all cultures to be represented, so my question is to find out how. These are questions I have, so I am in no way offended. I am simply enlightened. I learn through this dialog. I am thankful to those that were willing to express their honest opinions. I am doing my best to be respectful of the views of others, I simply posed a question.

I can only express myself from the point of view that is my own. I am trying to learn why it is such a challenge to value diversity in this country.

LaShawndra-
there have been other posts who related the first time in American history a black man is President. What I think Metdad attempting to relate is being black doesn't make a difference if you first consider yourself an American. When I see someone take offense over things like you just did, I wonder what it is they feel they have to prove and to whom. I don't care what your skin color is. It seems to be a big thing for you-ok-maybe that's the way you grew up or what's important to you. Not everyone feels the same way. If you respect their feelings and opinion they will be more apt to repay the favor.
I don't feel we need diversity months-it kind of creeps me out. Let's spend a whole month on African Americans, alot some time to Arab tradition, Hindu beliefs and fight to have Judeo-Christian holidays and beliefs taken out of school- It's never equal and no one is ever satisfied-usually because they are so ready to take offense and start a fight to begin with. Sad but true-so the next time a kid graduates who can't add, remember where the money for his education was spent.

Metdad,

I'm not sure why you placed that here, I don't think this was about the current president. This was about diversity celebrations. It was a PTO concern. Not about the first black president. And he is black, despite what you may think.

Wow.. I have to agree also. Very well put metdad.

Metdad......
Very well stated. I completely agree.

Our President Barak OBama is a historic event- yes. Yes- he is our first "black" president- he is not the first one to have African American lineage though. I find the his claim to be "African American" somewhat of a joke too-his mother and grandparents were/are white and his step father Asian- these are the people he spent the majority of his youth with. The fact that he was fathered by a black man who was not as involved with him as his mother, step father and grandparents means that yes-only skin color really matters. Let's celebrate that as a nation we've overcome old prejudices but accept the fact we elected an American to the Office of Commander In Cheif. Has nothing to do with skin color.

The abstract nature of your answer is interesting. I think that school of thought should be applied to all education programs. Different learning styles, ways of communicating messages, are definately lessons. Social development plays a major factor as well. Thank you so much for sharing!

I think that teachers should have a clear educational rationale for anything they teach. I think the more children can learn about others strengthens their ability to understand and function in the world in terms of differences- instead of linear one dimensional thinking.

I think the pending inauguration gives families as well as the schools plenty of opportunity to talk about diversity, and the history that is being made in our children's lifetimes.

With regards to diversity in schools, I honestly don't see how some schools can avoid it. Our children live in increasingly diverse environments. Diversity goes beyond race and gender, and we need to teach our children to be inclusive of all individuals regardless of race, gender, religion, cultural background, sexual orientation, weight, disability, the list could go on......

The goal of diversity education is not to promote a specific view or idea, but to rather broaden our knowledge of all of the various cultures/ ideologies. It happens in our children's school. It's not necessarily part of a curriculum, but there are certainly opportunities where it is addressed. Holiday's, Martin Luther King Day, and I'm sure many other days, are all examples of opportunities to broaden our own experience and culture.

La Shawndra,

You sure are getting a "diverse" set of answers! My reply earlier was very brief . TJ Love's message made me re-read your question.

I do feel that parents should teach children about their heritage and it should be honored and celebrated. My son was born in America and my husband is American, but I was born and raised in the Bahamas. He is 10 years old and extremely proud of the various nationalities that make up his heritage.

I agree that teaching our children about cultural diversities is important, and would be very supportive of after-school events such as cultural heritage evenings where both parents and children participated. This was what you were suggesting. I mistakenly thought you wanted celebrating diversity added to the school curriculum, which I would not support.

I believe that everyone has a right to believe, do, or be whoever they want to, however......I am getting real tired of the "old" holidays/observances completely getting phased out of the schools IE: Christmas, Halloween, Easter, etc...

If we have to learn and observe holidays from our neighbors and friends of other countries (which I have no objection to whatsoever) Why did we have to fade out our own holidays to make room??? We are still here too, and I for one miss the good old fashioned "Christmas Program" NOT the "Winter/Holiday Show". We use the correct terminology for Eid, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, why can't "Merry Christmas" be a welcome greeting or a genuine warm wish from a neighbor instead of an affront or an ignorance of our knowledge of the diversity we all have to live with?

Thank you for your views. I appreciate your perspective. Please continue to contribute suggestions to keep this conversation going. It is helpful to readers to see the different ways people value their diversity and how they express it in daily life.

I agree. I believe it should be celebrated by the family not the schools.

Thank you for the information. I think the word diversity means a lot of things and not all about red, white, yellow, brown , or black people.

You reminded me of what I learned from my former Pastor about the word BLACK. I was in the state of OK for three months and in the church for the fourth week when the pastor had a message titled, Devil. He associated every evil thing with a black color cited HIS biblical examples. He stressed that black meant bad luck, witchcraft, terrorists , and added that white meant pure and holy, but JESUS CHRIST was born black/brown and a Middle Easterner, lol.

The very nice pastor taught me a great lesson that my very good friends refused to talk about or tell me. I left the church, but the pastor helped me in raising my children well with every spoken word.
He concluded his message on how blessed he was with so many "black friends" and very proud that his church has thirty percent African Americans. Funny stuff!

I think diversity is great in all aspects of life, and individual's culture should be a way of life for each family not a celebration in schools.

Thanks for sharing!

Good question. My original question used the word diversity. The word black is something that emerged out of the 60's and 70's after rejecting the previous nick names given to people of color in america. It is natural to immediately say black vs white. Opposites. My question was seeking enlightenment. This made me think about the power of the word black.

Would you call your cultural background white?

I don't call my cultural background black. But I know what it means when someone says you are black. It is based on what you see.

I think a good way to look at black history month is to stop being so afraid to talk about being black or white. The conversation has proven to create diversity. And for that I think cultural history months prove to be very useful.

Obviously, to learn about different cultures can be interesting and very informative. I only have a problem with the specific months set aside for specific races and cultures. We celebrate black history month, but where is Asian history month or Indian, Middle eastern, French and so much more. Would we be considered racists if we had a white history month? Just a question.

I think those are great outcomes that honor all cultures. It's a long year, with proper communication all cultures can be included. Student councils are the wisest places to establish the needs of an entire school. I will take that suggestion back to the school my children attend. Thank you so much!

Thank you, TJ Love for your well thought out reframing.

eccentric, I am not upset at all. But I am disappointed that sarcasm was chosen in a discussion that should be sincere.

I am dealing with a situation locally, that has nothing to do with this thread, but it shows me a great deal about the challenge of communication we face. This is definately the wrong discussion for sarcasm at this stage.

I am trying to choose my words very carefully, as this is an issue that I hope to find some commonality in before it is all said and done.

My question deals with diversity. Culture is not about race so I am talking about the diversity of all communities (neighborhoods, schools, even this site).

I had a very productive conversation about this with the principal at my children's school. This discussion lead me to believe that we should start leading projects at home that trace the roots of families and have our children present these traditions. Sometimes people feel left out with the months set aside for what traditionally is called minorities. I am seeking that people shift their pardigm.

I am not angered by dissent at all, I welcome it to ensure that I am taking all things into consideration. I hope you do not find my views to be offensive, but if you do there is nothing I can do about that. But I will do the best I can to treat others with respect about this topic. As long as I am given the same, I will always encourage debate to enlighten others. This is a useful thread. It gives us a great deal to think about. I am thankful that all have come here to discuss this topic, and I hope this discussion continues.

I know when we lived in SO. CA The middle schools had student council where students would go to sort problems out between other students it could be boy or girl or white vs white Hispanic vs pink in other words whatever the mix may be the students brought it to the student council board and all students agreed to obied by the rulings. and is as much I also know they had African-American month FEB. Hispanic Month May
Caucasian Month Nov. (I think) I believe they grouped together different cultures in Asian/Pacific Month I know my daughter really liked that as there was something like 10 presentations. Native American was grouped with Caucasian which included some of Europe I believe it was a 6 weeks. and Middle East Cultures
I would think that this would only work well if the school is this diverse. I would support this and I did.

Reading through the answers I want to make a couple clarifications so that we can keep this conversation on track. You guys can correct me if I'm wrong.

LaShawndra777's idea for celebrating diversity months is not to take away class time but to have special presentations or after-school enrichment classes/activities.

When Eccentric referred to things being black and white, it was not a reference to race/culture but another way of saying things are not just one way or the other- there are areas that are gray or unclear.

I think this discussion has great potential. I know most of the people posting on this thread well and I'm sure no one intended to be insensitive. It can be tricky to determine the tone of a comment posted online. One may be trying to be funny but it comes across flat or rude, etc. Let's try to give each other the benefit of the doubt!

LaShwandra,

My sarcastic tone was not to upset you (which I clearly did!). However, it also seemd to me that you wanted most people to agree with you. I said nothing wrong...I have merely elaborated on what you had suggested in the first place.

Reading back though, I realized that I may have written something (completely unintentionally) that offended you more than anything else. Look, I'm multicultural myself, and I have friends from various religions, race, cultures, and nationalities! Hence, when I see people or talk to them, that's all I see, a person - beyond his race or religion. Then, the only difference I weigh that person is his intellect!

Again, to me not everything is black and white, meaning "not as crystal clear...!" Please do not make it an issue that doesn't exist!

eccentric

You are not trying to be insensative. As a matter of fact, you are succeeding. I wish you well, but you have come in a very negative tone.

Magnet Mom,

I am not offended. Please don't take it as that. Much of what you are saying is accurate. I do believe that families should teach their children their heritage. Unfortunately there are several familes that do not know their heritage. Simply because society is broken down. I think the reason that this topic sprang to my attention is because of the diversity problems I see in the schools I have dealt with here. I agree that the classrooms should be teaching common lessons. I was referring to after school events.

I do a heritage project with my children to share with their class. We bring in some items from our culture. Not just being black and american history, but the tribes (and islands) that my family has roots in.

I am seeking to educate the families at my children's schools about tracing their heritage. About story telling. These are not black white issues. Every culture has these record keepers. I feel we should include all of them.

But my question itself never referred to being black. None of you would know what color I was based on a message. It is definately not a black issue. It is a history lesson that families should start participating in.

LaShawndra,

My dear, let's honor every single cultural and religious tradition that exist in the school district. Let's have activities, foods, talks, speeches, and debates on how to bring awareness about "cultural heritage" that perhaps should've been taught or told at somebody's home. My friend is part Scott, part German, and part French...I want my kids to know everything there is to know about bag pipes, haggis, Bavarian veal sausages, which should be consumed before 12 noon everyday, and Pere Noel and Christmas Creche that is French custom! Well, I guess that will be great for teachers also!

I'm not trying to be insensitive as you think, but just trying to make you understand that not everything is always black and white!

Yes, diversity is very important. It is what makes the world go round. We can learn and educate from each other's culture.

Yes, in the area of classroom's composition, that is, each classroom accommodate students from all background such as parents' income, race, parents' education, students' academic, age, height, weight, LD, and gender. My school district is doing the above and it is helping the children, teachers, and the school community.

No! celebration of people's culture should be a way of life to an individual family. Way of life in the community where the family lives, store where the family shops, values and moral in family's home, the company the family keeps, music and food the family shares. The vacation the family chooses to take. Is it a yearly trip to Europe or Africa or Caribbean. Yes! the family choice of doll or books or clothing, games, TV show or friends or a place of worship or barbershop, or volunteer's sites.

The list goes on and on and for me, I look inward on what I am doing to help my children feel proud of their heritage and also educate friends about my culture and very open to learn their culture too, which almost the same: family, good education for our children, hard work for money, faith and happiness. My children's school invite me and others to speak on our culture when the students are studying the six continents called around the world.

Every day actions speaks louder than words!

There is hardly enough time to teach reading and writting skills. Let's leave cultural diveristy to whatever social studies they are covering at the moment and not celebrate every little thing. I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but how many people would want to celebrate a group like the Nazi's or Taliban? If you open the door to one group-they will all want their beleifs covered.

LaShawndra777,

This is an interesting debate, I'll agree.

It seems what several of us are saying is that cultural diversity isn't something we want stressed in the schools. You then say "some children rely on school to be all things to them." And that's where this question will start to wobble off topic.

I know for me, I want school to stick to the basics, since they already have trouble providing just that.

Living in Los Angeles, we have plenty of opportunities to intimately be a part of different cultures, whether it's a visit to Chinatown for dim sum and a walk through the stores or my son choosing to take college-level Japanese in high school. Conversely, I would hate to think that if a day/month/week isn't designated that it is less important.

And like I alluded to before, I want Frieda Kahlo in the curriculum where her art makes sense to the art teacher--not in either September for Hispanic Heritage Month or March for Women's History Month. I'm NOT a fan of politically determined dates or months to determine where the curriculum can or should go.

And comparing it to health issues I feel the same way. Dental health month is February, as well. Does that mean if a teacher creates a great tie-in between teeth, health and Halloween, they should just shelve it because it belongs in February? I think not.

Also, I really don't see where anyone has answered your question in less than a sensitive manner. If you felt otherwise, I apologize. Sometimes being in a multicultural family with even more multicultural friends we're ok with vernacular that others might not be.

Glam Girl you make a lot of good points. I agree in many ways.

So do people feel that we should not celebrate during the months that this country has identified as cultural awareness months?

I try to compare this to health awareness months. Cancer awareness means more to people in this nation that have been affected by cancer. So one may argue that there is no need to spend any time organizing events surrounding cancer for similar reasons.

The point is, as long as there is not enough awareness concerning cultural differences, there is still a need to address it. Some of the statements right in this conversation have been insensative to other cultures.

I could give a history lesson on me, but my greater concern is the many children that do not know their heritage. Some of these children rely on the eduation system to be all things to them. We must remember that.

Diversity is all about my family considering my child is half mexican and half white. That being said people are still not familiar with all ethnicities and cultures. I wish there was a way that could show people like the military does. In the military you meet people from Chicago, New York, Florida etc. Maybe they could have the internet culture class online chatting with other schools and the children could ask questions like what is it like over in your state. Etc. Etc.

I agree with "eccentric." Our children have so much required learning and testing in school that I think "celebrating our diversities" (there are so many!) to their school curriculum would be distracting. I hope leading interesting lives will teach them about the world's different cultures.

Good question. There are so many differences in our "great melting pot," and so many opportunities to celebrate them... how do you choose what to celebrate without leaving something out or negatively impacting time available for other studies.

That said, perhaps schools could get a little more creative about celebrating diversity. They could have a cultural heritage evening event where kids could make presentations on either their own family culture or one that interests them. They could sign up to bring foods or participate in a cultural 'talent show' of singing and dance!

Or, what about when a child's birthday is celebrated, they would have a chance to showcase their family's heritage?

Cultural learning opportunities can be woven into many subjects, such as teaching games or dances from other cultures in PE, teaching songs in music, writing essays or reports in English, and through field trips to various cultural points of interest in the community. And then, there's always Social Studies class! ;-)

I'm also not so sure that it's 'diversity' that we're trying to teach through these celebrations, but rather culture. Diversity as a subject is really more about overlooking differences and finding the common ground that we all share so that we can play, live, and work together successfully. That should be taught every day by example, and through policy and discipline practices.

Interesting answers ladies. I hope to hear from some people in other communities as well. Thank you for your input.

Thanks, eccentric for speaking my sentiments so eloquently. We live in an information age, in a society where in big cities and the suburbs the diversity is already there. If my kids want to make latkes, they know where to go, if it's tamales, there's another place (and surprisingly, it won't be with their grandmother, who gave that up in the 70s). If they want to celebrate with their friends, they can conceivably celebrate something each of the 365 days of the year, with so many nationalities, languages, and dialects spoken in a neighborhood public school in a suburb of Los Angeles.

I'd prefer they spend *most* of their classroom time on the common culture we all share rather than emphasizing our differences.

No I don;t believe that deiversity needs to be celebrated. If schools start honoring traditions of cultures, there will be something going on every month! Do we celebrate "similarity" at schools? In fact, I believe that finding or "celebrating" similarities as opposed to differences may just bring more good to a society in general! Cultural traditions should be taught at home and perhaps be a part of education, not celebration! Just a thought!

I believe in diversity celebrations. I believe that we should continue to honor cultures other than our own. This nation celebrates all sorts of historical milestones. The milestones of different cultures should be celebrated, especially if they are associated with emancipation and liberty from oppression. That being said I am looking for ways to continue that effort in a way that all cultures can find a voice. The question is how?

As part of a diverse family in a diverse school, I personally prefer that diversity be handled as it comes up, rather than setting an artificial timeframe for it. If one of my daughter's classmates takes a trip over break to Pakistan and comes back, I'd rather she hear about it when the kid returns rather than saving it for whatever month is Pakistan heritage month.

Hispanic heritage month is supposed to be from September 15 to October 15. Does that mean the art teacher has to teach Frieda Kahlo then? What if the lesson fits more naturally later in the year?

There are only 12 months in a year, so what happens to Lithuanian culture, or Luxembourg heritage, or aboriginal australians? In my daughter's school, I think there are over a dozen languages spoken at home, and that doesn't even count the kids that are speaking English at home but still celebrating with grandparents or in the community.

In addition, I far prefer a mom (a dad, or a grandparent) to come in and help with a lesson and have the kids share why something is significant to their culture. Rather than a teacher try to explain something they may or may not understand fully. For instance I'm NOT a fan of Cinco de Mayo, since it's really a minor holiday and it's basically commercialized to get people to drink Dos Equis and eat out at El Torito. To celebrate it as the Mexican equivalent of 4th of July is just inaccurate. And for my daughter to come home with a basket of chips and salsa tells me that they wasted an hour of instruction since we live in an area that's 85% Hispanic and we can get better chips at the mom and pop restaurant down the block.

And speaking as the nonpolitically correct Scotch-French-German family member, I prefer that any of these diversity lessons stress the common aspects rather than the differences. Too often these activities are shown as a "this is what these people do" lesson rather than an opportunity to see we all like to celebrate, we all have families, and food is probably the unifier in most of them.

Not to ignore your question, but it's been discussed in great length in previous postings... If you go to the box in the upper right corner of this page, where it says "search community by keyword" you'll find many diversity discussions.

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Do you feel that schools should participate in diversity months?

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