We have all heard of Thomas Edison. We know who he is and what he is famous for. We know Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Graham Bell, and Henry Ford. Apart from being revolutionaries of their times, they have something else in common, as well: they are all white.
A challenge: Try to think of as many non-Caucasian inventors as you can. It is likely that you cannot name nearly as many as you can their white counterparts. This is evidence of a deep-rooted, racial prejudice--one that has only recently begun to be counteracted in textbooks nationwide.
This move towards cultural awareness is evidenced in many classrooms across the country. One example is, of course, the Little Rock Nine of the 1950s, which served as an impetus to future social progresses. Pulaski Heights Middle School--where I observe an educator--currently displays informative posters outlining famous African Americans and their accomplishments. These posters champion cultural diversity by providing students with information about people of other backgrounds, races, ages, and genders.
In my future classroom, cultural diversity will be an almost inseparable component of daily classroom discussion. Being a Spanish teacher, teaching Spanish to students comes not only with knowledge of the language, but also with knowledge of the culture, the people, the literature, the art, etc. Individuals' viewpoints will be volunteered, valued, voiced.
Discussions of immigration and its effects on all aspects of society will be frequent. Will the community's vote on ordinances begin to change? Will labor unions be strengthened or weakened? In this way, students will be engaged in cultural diversity, actively participating and actively aware.
George Washington Carver, Enrique Ostrea, Ann Wang: maybe someday, children will name these among their list of most famous inventors.
(Chapter 8).
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