In today’s increasingly diverse society, there is no room for ignorance in the classroom. It is very important that our students learn at a very early age that not everyone is the same, and that is ok! Diversity should not only be taught in the classroom; diversity should be celebrated! When people are different from one another, they can learn all sorts of new and exciting things about other cultures or lifestyles that they never knew about.
It’s important to realize that diversity isn’t simply a racial term; it applies to differences of all kinds. Diversity applies to race, religion, family upbringing, language, disability, and many other things as well. Our students need to learn about and embrace these differences. When a child is well educated, he or she can distinguish negative stereotypes, insensitivity, misconceptions they may run into as they grow older.
There are different ways to approach teaching diversity in the classroom. As in most cases, children will learn better if they can interact and learn for themselves, but with a little guidance from their teachers. Toys and books such as these can go a long way in teaching diversity to young minds. They are both great mediums for students to learn about diversity on their own accord. These CD’s are also a great way for children to learn about diversity through listening to different styles of music from different parts of the world.
Of course, teaching diversity is a lifelong process in which we all are continually learning. What’s most important about diversity education is just being open-minded and teaching your students to be open-minded as well. If you are looking for more information on how to properly teach diversity education, there are great resources available from PBS and the NDT Resource Center.