Diversity in Education

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." - Martin Luther King Jr.

Retrieved from http://members.aol.com/klove01/marquote.htm August 30, 2006.

As we return to school this week I would like everyone, not just educators, to remember that we live in the greatest country on earth and we are the super power we are due to our diverse ethnic nature. I know there are many who would disagree with me but that's the great thing about the First Amendment (see below) -

Bill of Rights - Amendment I -

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Please see the site below for more on the United States Constitution:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html

I can say whatever I want, and type it too! No one will come and drag me away- or put me in jail. I'd be remiss if I don't stop right here for a moment and thank the U.S. Military for defending our constitutional freedoms. Thank you for everything that you do and that you sacrifice for those of us here at home.

As for diversity in education we are all in this together, all of us.... regardless of skin color, socio-economic satus or priviledge. As we begin another school year I'd like to remind all of our teachers that the majority of educators in the United States are white women. Partly due to the history of education in the United States but also due in part to Affirmative Action.

"With great priviledge comes great responsibility."

It is our great responsibility as educators to even the playing field of education and as such life. The last great frontier is not under the sea or in outerspace, it is the human mind. All minds are created equal, just as Thomas Jefferson wrote,

"We hold these truths to be self-evident,

that all men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator

with certain unalienable Rights,

that among these are Life,

Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

~ from the Declaration of Independence

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm

So as we return to school in the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness please remember that we are on this planet together, for better or worse. Let's make this school year the best one ever- for everyone.....

Teaching Tolerance is a magazine as well as an online resource that is part of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which is located in Montgomery, Alabama. I was fortunate enough to receive many copies of these from my parents while I attended college. I have used them for many school projects/assignments and will continue to use them in the future as I transition from student to professor. (God willing!)

http://www.tolerance.org/teach/index.jsp

For additional information about the wonderful diversity that we experience here in the United States please check out the link below:

http://www.census.gov/

HOOAH! Go Army!

&

OOHRAH! For my Marine friends!