Why Diverse Representation in the Classroom is the Answer to a “More Divided America than Ever”
We have all heard the saying that America is more divided than before. While it is not as violent as the Civil War, it is still alarming to see how much of a gap there is between the perspectives of different people in the country. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed in order to maintain the country's stability. Today's youth must be taught to be more accepting of diversity in order to prevent this from happening in the future.
Some schools are doing their part by integrating multiple socio-political perspectives and thorough representation of all races and ethnicities into their social studies curriculum. The thought process behind this approach is the understanding that student exposure to those who culturally and socially differ in the classroom encourages creativity and critical thinking. A multicultural education provides a more comprehensive understanding of a subject matter and teaches students how to contribute their strengths to diverse environments. The omission of multiple perspectives in the classroom can be detrimental to youth development as students learn critical listening and thinking skills when engaging in open-minded, diverse conversations. Fostering these skills can ensure students are prepared for the healthy conflicts and creative exchanges they will encounter once they become adults in a globalized workforce and world. Poor preparation has already manifested into the disaster we see today where many people have been indoctrinated into a narrow-minded frame of thinking that there is only one correct way to do things — their way.
We are already seeing the implications of a lack of exposure to an accurate and complete representation of ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity in America’s segregated education system. Hate crimes blaming Asian people for the COVID-19 pandemic went on a disturbing rise. Historical revisionist conspiracy theorists, such as the anti-Semitic holocaust deniers, have become more frequent in online communities. And since 9/11, Islamophobia remains amplified, with 62% of Muslims reporting experiencing some frequency of religious discrimination.
Learning in diverse environments can help students develop their empathy skills. Unfortunately, in today's society, it is very common for people to act violently against marginalized groups. By building strong connections with other people from different backgrounds, students can learn to respect others instead of attacking them.
A lack of a comprehensive representation of the array of human races and ethnicities in the classroom is not only dishonest but is also a disservice to our future contributors to society. Shielding youth from the diverse beauty of their fellow humans perpetuates one of the huge drivers of present day divisiveness - xenophobia. Using culturally responsible curriculums rooted in the belief that diversity is a strength and should not be feared prepares students to become better citizens in their communities and sets a precedent for a more united society than the divided one we see now.
