I grew up in a unique district and now proudly work in that same district. When I was growing up I had friends from all over the world. My friends came from England, Bosnia, Russia, Sweden, Pakistan, India, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Portugal, Brazil and a few more places. In our school we had morning shows and newspaper articles about different cultures holidays and religions. Our discussions at the lunch table weren't just about what movies were playing or what homework assignment we had due Monday, but about each others cultures and religions. I was very fortunate to grow up in such a diverse town and it has shaped my attitudes and opinions in a very positive way.
It isn't just a district that is diverse culturally. Even when I went through the district 7 years ago, students with disabilities were included in the general education population. That participation has only increased. In fact, we've had parents of students in special education tell us their doctors recommended they move to our district because of how we treat and work with our differently abled students. Our teachers try to see students positive qualities and personalities. I myself was a students with Learning Differences. I am dyslexic and I had teachers and tutors who worked with me to determine how best I learned, how to advocate for myself, and gave me strategies that would make me independent. By middle school I no longer qualified for services because I was utilizing the strategies that they taught me. Later at the end of middle school and throughout high school my teachers bent over backwards to help me succeed when I became too ill to attend school on a regular basis. A tutor was sent to my house to help me keep up with my work. My teachers collected my homework and sent it to me so I could still graduate on time.
This is not to say that the district is perfect and discrimination and mistakes are made, because no place is perfect, but it was certainly a very cool place to grow up and live.
Wow! That sounds like an amazing experience. I was wondering how are you coping now in terms of your dyslexia? Are you still using the strategies that they gave to you or are you finding it a little bit more difficult... especially at the graduate level to get through everything?
ReplyDeleteMy experience was very different that yours because I grew up in mainly in a private school which was predominately white! The fact that we both ended up "Slightly multicultural" is prob. due the fact that I represent diversity by being in the minority. Not to say that the majority doesn't represent diversity... So I was able to share that with the people around and in many ways was looking for that around me as almost a comfort thing... for example it's very comforting to know that I am not the only African American student in the class... over time I have gotten used to it with the institutions that I have been a part of and take pride in myself at this point... I know this is prob. not 100% accurate... but I would honestly have to say, more than other people may be able to, that color doesn't bother me. It's not that I don't see it, it's just that it doesn't bother me.
Also, you shared that you were very sick... I'm really sorry to hear that, and depending on how comfortable you are... I would love to hear more about that... and how it makes you who you are today?