Diversity Is About Change Essay, Research Paper

Diversity is about change. Changes in population, changes in attitude, and changes in education. As this world continues to grow, meeting the challenges of diversity will also grow. Demographers across the world estimate that world population will increase to 10-11 billion by year 2050. United States makes up 4% of this total. The United States’ population percentage of the world’s total will grow because many people will immigrate to the U.S. As the immigration population of the U.S. increases, diversity challenges will also increase in intensity and number. If the population growth continues in an exponential fashion, we will exceed our carrying capacity, creating a tragic decline in population. Such a population “crash” generally means that one race will try to overcome another for control of resources. To address the critical issues I have mentioned we must have well educated people. Educated in ecology. Educated in diversity. Those who feel that a certain group is more superior and tries to subdue the less powerful will not be the people we need deciding policies for our nation. What will I do in my class to prepare our future leaders? This paper answers this question by focusing on:

 Change in population

 Change in attitude

 Change in education

As discussed previously changes in population are inevitable. Even though the U.S. birth rate, on a global average, is fairly low our nation will most likely hold on to the title as the third most populous country in the world. This is due to immigration. Especially in border states, such as California and Texas. As this kind of population growth continues the U.S. will continue to increase in cultural diversity. The most common immigrant’s are families. They want a better life for their children. They want religious freedom. They want an education. As these children enter our school systems, they bring diversity with them, diversity in skin color, diversity in language, diversity in religious beliefs.

As populations change, our attitudes must change as well. I will use these diversities as a tool in my classroom to help children change their attitudes. We will celebrate skin colors like we celebrate colors of the rainbow. New languages can be difficult when they interfere with a child trying to read or write in a second language. I will always encourage children to have patience with second language learners, to appreciate their native languages as well as celebrate their achievements in their new language. My mentor teacher, Mrs. Vieira, uses the top group of students in her class to work with the Spanish-speaking children. This is a great technique and I will certainly use it in my own classroom. Both students benefit, one by understanding the difficult nature of learning a new language and the other by having one on one instruction time with an English speaking person. I have noticed that children take great pride as the Spanish-speaking children move to new levels of the English language. Their attitudes change about their fellow students, which seems to develop a positive bond between these students. Many cultures celebrate different types of holidays. There are many different methods in which I will share these holidays. One method, of which, I have learned from my mentor teacher Mrs. Vieira. She sent a form home for everybody to write down their favorite recipe of a dish that is prepared at a holiday that their family celebrates. When the students return they will each read their recipe and share with the class why it is their favorite dish, why their family eats this dish on the holiday, who prepares the dish and where the preparation method was learned. This is a great tool for building interest in new cultures. Many children really catch on to the similarities in cultures. For instance two children of completely different nationalities presenting two completely different foods realize that in both instances, grandma is the one who prepares the dish. Children will recognize ingredients that they and another student have in common in their special dish. I have watched this simple project build bridges between culture gaps amongst the children. They realize there is a commonality between them and the student who is not the same race, or who does not speak the same language.

As populations and attitudes change, changes in education will be a must. I will encourage curriculums that emphasize the beauty of cultures. I will celebrate commonalties in different nationalities. I will encourage my students to be culturally diverse. They will be students who are culturally diverse decision-makers for an overpopulated world. Decision-makers with the right tools to address the critical issues that are laid before them.