Diversity In Public Schools

No school can hope prosperously to edify today's children without acknowledging and embracing the cultural pluralism of our diverse society. To this end, independent school educators must work to engender learning communities that embolden and support a diversity of membership and multicultural curricula. Such communities understand that one's individual perspective depends, in part, upon one's location in society. Prevalent understandings are multifaceted; they grow in communities that in spirit people to bring their stories to the table. A monoculture view of the world is a distortion of authenticity.

It lends itself to narrow perspectives and fosters the climate in which racism can grow. To be edified with only one view of the world is

A close visually examines diversity will include an evaluation of the school's mission and philosophy verbalizations; student recruitment; admissions and financial avail; school and community demographics; faculty hiring, retention, and professional development; school climate; and home-school relationships. Schools must withal assess the program, asking whether it is multicultural, apperceiving and including the experiences of the many different peoples who make up the school community, our American society, and our world. Does it both embolden the full participation of every child, and, concurrently, introduce each student to multiple perspectives? Each school will find itself in a different location on the path to becoming a whole

Multiculturalism, a quality of life characterized by acceptance and inclusion, is manifested in the schools.

• Climate;

• Curriculum;

• Shared community values; and

• Integration of multiple identities.

Wherever a school finds itself along the dynamic continuum for diversity and multiculturalism, the single most paramount components of the peregrination are to make an effort to identify where the school is currently located on the path and to develop an orchestration to proceed further down the road.

The Dynamic Continuum for Diversity and Multiculturalism

Admissions

COGNIZANCE: Evaluating demographic data and recruitment practices regarding diversity. COMMITMENT: Revising hiring and admissions practices.

ACTION: Including multiple voices on the admissions committee and initiating practices for achieving more preponderant diversity.

Publications and Visual Environment

VIGILANCE: Evaluating print and visual materials for attention to diversity.

COMMITMENT: Incrementing diversity in visual materials, including photos, and reviewing topics and coverage in light of multiculturalism.

ACTION: Reflecting an inclusive and accepting environment in publications, exhibits, bulletin boards, and public