Importance Of Diversity In Education

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According to the Oxford Dictionary, values are defined as “principles or standards of behavior; one’s judgment of what is important in life.” The interesting thing to note here is that the selection or formation of values is directly linked with one’s judgment. In other words, values are formulated based upon personal views and ideas that one determines to be important in life. In like manner, one’s educational philosophy is articulated when they evaluate and determine what values are most essential in the teaching process that will govern and define them as a teacher. With this in mind, I will attempt to give a clear overview, supported by academic references, of the values that I have personally “judged” as key components in the overall teaching …show more content…

Nathaniel Cantor, Chairman of the Department of Sociology at the University of Buffalo, made a profound statement, which still, to a large degree, is the predominant manner in which education is administered in public schools today, “the public elementary and high schools, and colleges, generally project what they consider to be the proper way of learning which is uniform for all students" (John Hopkins School of Education, n.d.). However, given the complexity of the modern day teaching-learning dynamic, there is an urgent need to address the issue of diversity in the classroom. Additionally, teachers are becoming more aware of the need to address the “total development of the transcendent”, while focusing on individual needs and learning styles (Bell, 1986, p. 18). Therefore, it is my personal belief that students are diverse in nature and have different learning styles and abilities, and as a result, it is my job to incorporate a variety of teaching strategies and methods, giving students an opportunity to learn in a manner that is conducive to their strengths and personality, while at the same time challenging them to experience other styles that may be outside of their comfort …show more content…

Having spent over ten years in Latin America has not only given me a deep understanding and appreciation in regards to the acquisition of a foreign language, but has instilled in me an enormous passion and enthusiasm to impart what I have learned with high school students. It is important to note at this point that “passion” alone is not sufficient in and of itself in motivating students to engage in the learning process. According to a statement put out by Carnegie Mellon University:
Regardless of the objective value of an activity or topic, if students do not recognize its value, they may not be motivated to expend effort. However, if students clearly see how coursework connects to their goals, interests, and concerns, they will be more likely to value it, and thus more motivated to invest time and effort

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