Although I agree very much that diversity and equity should be an approach
to whatever we teach--as opposed to something that is addressed in
specialized classes that the majority of students will never take-- I am
also wary of superficial efforts, for example inserting a few token works
into the curriculum instead of drawing on meaningful examples and
comparisons.
I remember very clearly in college the experience of reading "For Colored
Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf" (Ntozake
Shange) tacked on as the last book in the semester to a syllabus that was
otherwise pretty much "dead white males." It was an effort to appease
students who wanted more diverse authors without making any real
commitment of resources (for another class) on the part of the school, or
even any real effort on the part of the professor (to pick a book that
would have complemented or contrasted with themes of the course). It also
seemed to subtly imply that "diversity" authors couldn't stand on their
own-- but could be given a little time at the end of a semester full of
"real" literature.
Jean Mcleod <jmcleod@edc.org>
"Peggy Weeks"
<mdweeks@earthlink.n To:
et> cc:
Sent by: Subject: [EDEQUITY]All
owner-edequity@phoen curriculum reflect
diversity
ix.edc.org
03/02/01 04:45 PM
Please respond to
edequity
It seems to me that all curricula should reflect diversity in all aspects
and not have diversity of literature offered as a segregated class (meaning
that the class content is segregated into its own category or special
class). Great literature is great literature and it comes from all groups.
Our challenge is to make certain that the richness that it offers is
deliberately part of the education that our students encounter and learn to
love. When we segregate information about diversity off into its own
separate class, I think that we send a subtle message that it somehow does
not belong with "the classics." That is a serious mistake.
Recommendation of books: How about Alice Walker, Amy Tan, and Willa
Cather? Ralph Ellison?
Peggy Weeks
<mdweeks@earthlink.net>
----- Original Message -----
From: Chris Nelson <cnelson@8j.net>
I would check out the total curriculum for the high school before coming
down too hard on one AP class. Sometimes the "diversity curriculum" is
in another grade level.
Julian Weissglass <weissgla@math.ucsb.edu> wrote:
I went to Open House at my son's high school last night. I met
excellent teachers who are doing a good job. However, as usual, I
found the English curriculum to be severely lacking, even shameful....
Sincerely,
Julian Weissglass
Director, National Coalition for Equity in Education
email:weissgla@math.ucsb.edu
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