Despite the passage of 56 years since the Brown v. Topeka Board of Education Supreme Court decision, there continues to be a noticeable division among students of different races. This division is evident in various settings such as on the school bus, where students tend to gravitate towards those of the same race, or during recess, where groups of students predominantly interact with others of their own race. Furthermore, this type of self-segregation persists even in the lunchroom. Therefore, when faced with a situation where a new Black student is subjected to racist slurs and excluded from sitting at the table designated for white students by another white student, it becomes crucial to take immediate and long-term actions.
Furthermore, the persistent strategy includes incorporating cultural awareness into all school activities as a means of educating students. It is also important to involve students in extracurricular events that promote cultural learning and acceptance outside of the classroom. Teachers have a responsibility to discourage segregated tables, require students to give up their seats for newcomers, and implement disciplinary actions. The school maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of racism.
Not only would other students see this response, but it would also serve as a model for them. The next course of action involves addressing the problem of racism and emphasizing the value of fostering a diverse community with the principal. The teacher should propose organizing an event to educate the school community about its various backgrounds. It is also essential to emphasize that students must comprehend cultural differences, as this knowledge will be vital in the future job market.
Teachers can promote cultural understanding and broaden students’ global perspective by incorporating lessons and themes that highlight the achievements of various cultures. It is important for teachers to not only inform the principal about the issues, but also to develop a “Cultural Awareness Action Plan”. This plan should outline specific steps, assign responsibility to staff members, and establish goals and timelines for each step.
A list of staff members who support, help, and are committed to cultural awareness can be created. Cultural awareness can be integrated into all aspects of the school. In the classroom, each class should strive to incorporate cultural awareness whenever feasible. For example, during science class, students can discuss inventions and inventors and learn about George Washington Carver, an American scientist, educator, humanitarian, and former slave.
Math classes could incorporate cultural discoveries such as the African people being the first to use counting to keep track of their things or time. Additionally, English classes can include books like Bud Not Buddy or The Watsons Go to Birmingham to discuss race and racism. Overall, history class provides a valuable opportunity for students to gain perspective on various cultures.
A school should prioritize teaching African American History to emphasize the importance of black students’ heritage. Both English and History classes should address the severe consequences of racial and ethnic discrimination. Students can read personal narratives of individuals who lived through Apartheid in South Africa, the Holocaust, or slavery. They can also watch educational videos like Mighty Times: The Children’s March or A Time For Justice. Cultural awareness should extend beyond the classroom.
To enhance cultural awareness among students, the cafeteria can showcase a different food every week. Along with this, information on its origin, cultural significance, and the geographic location of cultures that consume it can be provided as students pass through the line. Additionally, in hallways, information boards can be placed where students share their ethnic background. These boards will include details about religion, cuisine, pastimes, and customs of their culture. They will also have photographs of the students and their families along with a map and flag representing their ancestors’ homeland.
One approach to fostering cultural awareness is by including students with diverse backgrounds in after-school discussions focused on important issues that affect them collectively. This will enable them to discover shared experiences and value diversity. In addition to teaching students about various cultures, educators should also promote an accepting attitude towards other cultures as a way of life. Within the classroom, a range of activities can be introduced to help students understand the importance of equality.
Encouraging students to take part in Mix It Up at Lunch Day is a means of introducing them to diverse cultures. The objective of this initiative is to foster social interaction and broaden students’ social networks by urging them to sit with unfamiliar individuals during lunchtime. Through engaging with people from different racial, ethnic, or social backgrounds, students can actively diminish their biases towards those who differ from them.
One method to improve students’ understanding of the impacts of discrimination is by integrating a game that highlights different characteristics. In this game, students are directed to select either the right or left side of the classroom. The teacher then presents a set of paired attributes, such as blue eyes or brown eyes. Students will adjust their positions based on these traits. This process is repeated with different qualities.
The primary goal of this game is to demonstrate that individuals can be classified based on various factors, and discriminating against them due to any characteristic, such as eye color, is just as irrational as discrimination based on skin color. Teachers are also encouraged to motivate students to take a stand against discrimination by committing themselves to the following statement: “As a young citizen of the world, I am united with the United Nations in opposing racism, discrimination, and all forms of intolerance. Throughout my life, I will strive to advocate for equality, justice, and respect for all individuals in my home, community, and worldwide.” Additionally, it is crucial for students to reflect on their beliefs about people from different races and assess whether these beliefs are based on facts or stereotypes. Moreover , students may choose to participate further in Mix It Up at Lunch Day by engaging in events or sitting with classmates from diverse backgrounds while riding the bus. They could even organize a school festival that highlights cultural diversity through music , dance artistry , and food. Teachers should emphasize the importance of speaking up when their peers make judgments based on race.
The teacher should collaborate with students to address and prevent bullying and racial jokes. One approach is to engage students in group skits that enable them to practice responding to racist comments. Moreover, technology can be utilized by the teacher to enhance students’ understanding of discrimination in their state. Specifically, The Southern Poverty Law website enables students to choose their state from the map and explore hate groups and hate crimes that have occurred there. Furthermore, students have the opportunity to add their voices to the Stand Strong Map as advocates for tolerance.
Teachers can also introduce students to various cultures beyond the school by organizing class field trips where students can volunteer their services to different groups. Another way to engage the class is by participating in Intercultural E-mail Classroom Connections (IECC), which allows students to connect with partners from other countries. This way, students can establish pen-pal communication with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds.
By educating and involving students in different cultures, we can fully integrate ethnic awareness into the school environment. To promote tolerance and equality among students, it is crucial to openly embrace diversity and break down unspoken divisions.
Works Cited
“Foundations and Assessment of Education.” Wikibooks. 10 August 2009. Web. 1 Oct. 2010.
“Lesson on Discrimination Based on Race. United Nations Cyberschoolbus. 2010. Web. 3 Oct. 2010.
Malloy, Wendy. “Anytown Fires Up Teens To Foster Acceptance.” Tampa Tribune. 13 June 2003. Web. 1 Oct. 2010.
Oldenburg, Ann. “I Sit Where I Want: The Legacy of Brown V. Board of Education”. Parents’ Choice. 2005. Web. 30 Sept. 2010.
“Stand Strong Against Hate.” Southern Poverty Law Center. 2010. Web. 3 Oct. 2010.
Steindorf, Sara. “A school faces its own segregation.” The Christian Science Monitor. 18 June 2002. Web. 1 Oct. 2010.
“Teaching Tolerance.” Southern Poverty Law Center. 2010. Web. 3 Oct. 2010.
