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Diversity in Education
Diversity
• Being different• Unlikeness• Variety• Multiformity• Point of difference• Individuals representing more than one national origin, color, religion,
socioeconomic stratum, sexual orientation
Sexism
• Discrimination based on gender• Often times teachers will stereotype genders without realizing it Example: Boys are strong in math and science, weak in reading
and writing Girls are strong in reading and writing and weak in
science and mathThese stereotypes can inadvertently set teachers’ expectations without the teacher even realizing it.
What can a teacher do to prevent sexism in the classroom?• Introduce literature based on plots and not on gender of characters.• Make sure material used in class is authored equally by men and
women.• When assigning groups, make sure they are made up equally of
female and male.• Devise a plan to call on each gender equally• Make sure all questions to both genders are equally challenging
Ethnocentrism• Discrimination based on the belief that one's own ethnic group or
culture is superior to others• Often occurs out of ignorance of cultures different from our own and
thinking one’s own culture is the center of the universe Example: A teacher uses materials or texts that deal with culture
he/she understands and is most comfortableBy doing this students from different cultures and backgrounds will have a harder time engaging, understanding or participating because of their disinterest or feeling of non- acceptance
What can a teacher do to prevent ethnocentrism in the classroom?• Address cultures equally by reading various literature selections from
different cultures • Avoid slang from your own culture• Get to know students and cultures and invite them to share with class • Make sure one population is not demeaned in any way• Set up anonymous question box giving all students a chance to ask
questions they may not feel comfortable asking in the whole class situation
Classism
• Discrimination based on socioeconomic status or social class• Often teachers will unintentionally teach to the higher classes, not realizing
students in lower class are being left behind• Students in higher classes set the norm for the classroom• Teachers may assume students who come from higher income families will be
the high achievers while lower income students are deemed low achieversExample: Teacher calls on the students who are better dressed, have class materials and are more alert, thinking they are the higher achievers while scolding or possibly not engaging a quieter, not as well dressed or prepared student.
What can a teacher do to prevent classism in the classroom?• Always build background knowledge due to students having different
previous experiences (ex. Bring in materials, showing photographs to allow all students t contribute to a lesson)• Have hard copies of notes, assignments and any other materials that
might be normally be otherwise electronic• Be mindful of students who are quiet, unkempt, or seem lost
Racism
• Discrimination based on differences in ethnicities • Occurs when teachers have lower expectations for certain ethnic
groupsExample: a teacher may show favoritism to his or her own when grading or single out certain races when disciplining with or without being aware of it
What can a teacher do to prevent racism in the classroom?• Make sure classroom discipline is consistent with all students• Call on students in class equally ( incorporate EPR (every pupil
response or random calling strategies)• Choose texts and class materials written by various authors from
various races • Be mindful of pre-conceived negative or positive expectations of
students of different races
Ableism
• Discrimination against people with disabilities, physical and otherwise• Often teacher assumes disability means inability
Example: Teacher doesn’t differentiate instruction enabling all students to be engaged
What can teachers do to prevent ableism in their classroom?• Differentiate assignments for those needing instructional support and
those needing instructional challenge• Have instructional resources and activities for students who have
disabilities that make it difficult to move around the classroom, see, or hear, keeping them involved in the lesson• Teach class to work cooperatively with each other
