what does diversity mean in education

Parents Forum
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<p>Re: my own education- high school drop out- my spouse graduated from high school ( barely) neither one of us have attended a 4 year school- although I have been attempting to take college courses from a community college after taking my GED exam.
Thats our education level- income level is blue collar- hanging on to " middle class" by which I mean the average income in US.</p>

<p>We are very proud that both of our daughters have managed to graduate from high school, despite our own history. It was difficult- especially given our learning differences and limited resources. Our oldest has even graduated from college- from a school that valued her status as a first generation college student, and her determination to succeed despite her challenges.</p>

<p>Our younger daughter, has been accepted to a local university & has been working 1 & 1/2 jobs, to pay her way for an international service program, before she begins school next fall.</p>

<p>Given our background and lack of supports, it is a blessing that they are doing as well as they are. I don’t believe that you need to attend college to be educated- or to be successful and happy. However, I do believe that for many young people ( and older) , higher education will open doors, that cannot be shut again.</p>

<p>I also believe, that my children, add a great deal of diversity to the campus.
While ethnic diversity is tracked- and some stats regarding economic diversity can be identified, by looking at % and amount of loans/aid, we are much more than our skin color.
Not only do our kids have parents who work with their hands for a living, but dealing with disabilities and differences in sexual orientation also make for challenges that can be even more difficult * because* they are not visible.</p>

<p>As a constant advocate in public schools, I grow weary of those who dismiss what I have to say- because to them, my skin color denotes wealth & status.
It matters not, that this assumption is even shared by teachers, who despite contrary evidence, did not give my daughter her legal rights under IDEA, because as a child of white privilege, she * really didn’t need the help* :rolleyes:</p>

<p>I was stunned, to see written communication from an administrator in the school district stating that only whites were prejudiced.- Their past actions had illustrated this belief, but still I was surprised to see it advertised.</p>

<p>I realize that skin color and national origin will always be an issue for some in this country ( as well as a few other things, like age & sex). However, while we should keep moving forward- we also need to honor more subtle differences and similarities, because they are what keep us human.</p>

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<p>You might enjoy the work and website of close friends of mine:</p>

<p>[Class</a> Action - Classism issues, Consulting, Seminars about race, gender, and poverty](<a href=“http://www.classactionnet.org/]Class”>http://www.classactionnet.org/)</p>

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<p>In college settings, at least those where I have had experiences, diversity is looked at much more broadly. The vast majority of the students where I work are first gen, whether white or not (and the white students are a minority here.) I think very few people here–staff, faculty or students–assume that the white students are rich or privileged, because most aren’t. Students with disabilities, students with different sexualities, students of different religions, are all viewed by most here as bringing richness to the fabric of the school.</p>

<p>The kind of statements you have heard made would be considered very bad form at this school. The federal program I work for is class based, not race or nationality based (it is open to students who are first gen and/or low income). I am actually the only Caucasian on the staff of this program, and my colleages, I have noticed, are extra careful to be welcoming to white students in the program, as they are ironically a minority here.</p>

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<p>

That person should be fired because they’re either an idiot or a racist (although the latter covers both I guess).</p>

<p>Diversity in this context, to me anyway, really just means a group comprised of people with different backgrounds. This could mean anything from different races, ages, orientations, genders, socio-economic level, culture, geography of this or another country they were raised in, native language, outgoing vs introverted, sports loving vs not, partier vs not, etc. It all makes the workd go round. </p>

<p>However, some have tried to boil the term down to mean only one or two things - racial minorities and sometimes orientation. It’s an oversimplification. </p>

<p>Regardless, it seems highly important to some and not much to others even if they’re in the minority of the particular metric.</p>