Diversity Training
Diversity Training has become a hot topics in the last few years -- both popular and controversial...
Links
Hate
http://racerelations.about.com/od/racismandchildren/a/games.htm
Diversity Training has become a hot topics in the last few years -- both popular and controversial. Diversity means different things to different people, from race to religion to orientation to social status.
Teaching Tolerance, part of the Tolerance.org web site, serves as a clearinghouse of information about anti-bias programs and activities being implemented in schools across the country. Their goal is to present some of the most innovative, useful initiatives found to date. Teaching Tolerance also produces and distributes free, high-quality anti-bias materials for classroom use.
DiversityWeb, while aimed at colleges & universities, provides a comprehensive compendium of campus practices and resources about diversity. This can be a good site to review the issues and identify curriculum ideas you can use.
California Newsreel provides training videos for both student and Faculty/staff use. Several of the videos are accompanied by excellent Facilitator Guides that can help integrate your screenings into a larger, well-defined process of critical inquiry and action.
"What does Gay Mean?" is an excellent resource put out by the National Mental Health Association. Anti-gay prejudice affects straight youth, too. In fact, for every lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender (LGBT) youth who reported being harassed, four straight students said they were harassed because they were perceived as being gay or lesbian.
YouthResource, a Web site created by and for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) young people 13 to 24 years old, covers a wide range of issues and offers support, community, resources, and peer-to-peer education.
About.com has an excellent list of additional Diversity Training resources, including Fun Resources and Games That Teach Children Not to Hate.
Understanding Prejudice is aimed at teenagers. It provides surveys and links. This site is well-organized and factual.
The Human Rights Resource Center, hosted at the University of Minnesotacontains more than 25,000 documents.
Annotation
Human rights are becoming more than just a phrase. As America moves into the 21st century, many of the stereotypes of the past are being recognized for what they are. Schools curricula are being enhanced to reflect the idea that "all men [and women] are created equal".
In the process, these curriculum changes are enhancing student (and teacher) self esteem. Students who do not have to apologize for their race, creed, gender, or orientation make for better students and, in turn, better schools.
