Diversity

I think if we tried to tie Dewey's concepts into the curriculum, then "diversity education" would necessarily be an integral part of the classroom environment. For example, taking Dewey's ideas both of school as society and school in society, if students were encouraged to work together cooperatively and collaboratively, each student contributing as much as her or she is able, then they would learn to appreciate each other as individuals and value the contributions each person brings to that particular interaction. Then, when those students return to their home environments, they will have a greater sense of the value of diversity and will become more profitable members of society as a whole. The school should be treated as an ideal community in which each person is encouraged to work past his or her individual prejudices and work toward the greater good. If we can involve students in more cooperative activities while giving them an increased awareness of the power of diversity, I think we would be doing them a great deal of good.

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