talking about diversity

I found this website about talking diversity issues with children (when you feel most uncomfortable).

Don’t assume that the statement isn’t coming from an experiential basis.

Talk to your child about the similarities and differences between themselves and others.

Educate yourself and model openness to learning about cultural assumptions and characteristics.

Pay attention to your own conscious and unconscious stereotypes and behaviors.

Expose your child to cultural traditions as part of their typical experience.

Don’t make or share assumptions based on media or isolated experiences alone.

Practice talking and explaining cultural characteristics and answers to your child.

source: http://www.alliancefordiversity.org/resources/handout_talkingwithchildren.shtml

I think this class is really amazing because it exposes us to books that we normally may have never been exposed to. During class there are topics that come up that make some of us uncomfortable. As teachers, we can't always know what topics are going to come up in the classroom. There is a very good chance a topic will come up that makes us uncomfortable, but I think that makes discussing such a topic all the more important. We need to be exposed to all sorts of topics on diversity, we need to research them and become knowledgeable on them, so that we can effectively talk about it with our children, our students. I think this list from the alliance ford diversity website is really helpful. I like how it points out that we need to pay attention to our own inner stereotypes and behaviors, unconscious or not. Lord forbid we pass on any stereotypes or negative behaviors to our children or students. The best way to expose our children/students to topics of diversity is by.. drum roll please... TALKING to them. By talking with them we can answer their questions, their doubts, and clear up any misconceptions before these things develop into negative stereotypes. Children watch tv and read magazines, and these forms of media can offer really negative/untrue images. These biased points of view need to be explained to our students/children so that they can identify these views as being untrue, and therefore be able challenge the views portrayed by the media on their own.