Celebrating Diversity

In our class we sit in a circle on the floor a few times a day. Once for our "morning meeting" and then other times for various activities throughout the day. The movement is good for the kids, and the circle also allows the whole class to see each other when we're in a discussion.

Today while we were in the circle I took notice of all the faces. Black, brown, tan, white. There is not one minority or majority of ethnicity in the nineteen kids in our class. This is also reflective of the school as a whole. In fact, our school's ethnic statistics somewhat mirror those of our nation.

We are in 4th grade, so racial issues are almost non-existent at this point. I also think that the diversity of the school and our class only helps this. I consider my kids lucky to be exposed to such a variety of cultures and backgrounds. It can only help them. In two years they will be in middle school, which will be bigger than their elementary school world. And three years later they will be in high school, even bigger than their middle school world. Each time they move into a bigger place, they will encounter even more diversity. They are already building their skills of tolerance, acceptance, and appreciation for people that are not from the same culture and background.

They're pretty lucky to be building these life skills at a time in their lives where it's easy. If we are surrounded by people who are just like ourselves, then when we get older, it is harder to tolerate or accept those people with different beliefs, cultures, etc.

What a worldly place the classroom is. Especially my diverse one.