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How to Address the Issue of Diversity As a Part of Your Instructional Program

You should address diversity as part of your instruction program not only to fulfill your contractual and legal obligations governing non-discriminatory practices but also to be fair to all your students. According to Gerald H. Knockover, in "Diversity and Equity in the Classroom," many teachers work with an unconscious bias. They tend to ask more questions of white male students, prompt them more, listen to them more actively and give them more time to answer. Many teachers will be completely unaware that they are doing this. To avoid teaching in this way, you need to develop an awareness of diversity and of your own attitudes and behaviors.

Instructions

    • 1

      Increase your own knowledge of cultural diversity. If, for instance, you have a Hindu student in your classroom, set aside some time to learn about this religion, asking the student to help you improve your understanding. Incorporate this into class work, if this is appropriate, and if the student agrees.

    • 2

      Assess your own unconscious teaching practice. Many teachers show bias in the way they ask questions. Ask a colleague to videotape one of your lessons. Sit and watch this afterwards. You may be surprised by what you see. Resolve to teach in a more balanced way.

    • 3

      Question your own assumptions. You may direct particular questions to the male students, for instance. A teacher may also make a casual remark to a student about his parents that makes assumptions. For example, the teacher might ask "when your parents went to college," assuming that the student's parents went to college. Develop your sensitivity, but be careful not to stifle spontaneous interaction in the classroom.

    • 4

      Initiate honest and open discussion of diversity in the classroom. Adopt a positive approach to this. It is better to celebrate diversity rather than make people frightened of saying the wrong thing. Look at your materials and your case studies, aiming to develop them in a way that reflects diversity.

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