Issue/Question:
I don't see why we should have to teach diversity at all. Schools are for academic learning, not for imparting social values.
Suggested Response:
Children learn social values in school whether teachers consciously teach them or not. Both what is taught and what is not taught alters a child's perceptions of the world. Children who attend a school where the staff routinely neglects or dismisses diversity come away thinking that diversity is not important or that it is somehow bad. In a pluralistic society like ours, omitting the contributions of people from a variety of cultural groups tarnishes those groups and devalues their contributions. Teaching about diversity helps prepare children to live and work successfully in a pluralistic society.
