Argument For Diversity

Article published in NEA Today magazine entitled Why We Need More Diverse Books.  I especially agree with the section where the author discusses the concept that students need more windows into other peoples experiences and mirrors of validation. I wrote a similar article entitle How to Broaden Students Sense of History.  

Apache Trails of Tears

The story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears is very well documented.  Under the guise of the Treaty of New Echota with Presidential support, thousands of Cherokees were removed from their territory east of the Mississippi River between 1835-1838.  The death toll is estimated at 10 thousand.  Fifty years later, the development of Carlisle Schools  (1879-1918) across the country worked actively to erase Native Americans' culture.  The Bureau followed the principle of "Kill the Indian, Save the Man."  Other lesser known, bur similar events followed this pattern including the Apache Trail of Tears and the Occupation of Alcatraz. American society is still coming to terms with it's brutal past. I found a great article written in the Washington Post entitled "Native American sports mascots turned real people into flimsy props good riddance to them all." Some critics claim it is part of a cancel culture.  I disagree,  I strongly believe it is a country wrestling with its past transgressions.  The Cleveland logo does not honor Native American Indians.  It erodes and reduces humanity to something trivial.  

Merrill's Marauders: James Richardson

In September of 2020 the U.S. Government finally got around to recognizing an elite unit that were assigned the unimaginable task of capturing an airfield in Japanese-occupied Burma during World War II.  The 530th Unit, known as Merrill's Marauders trekked 1,000 miles behind enemy lines.  While traveling across Burma the unit endured many hardships.  First, the soldiers fought a determined Japanese enemy.  Second, the long journey led them through miles of jungles and over the rigid Himalayan foothills.  And last the unit was riddled with dysentery, fever and malaria. The combination of war, sickness, unique terrain, and lack of supplies made for a hellish combat.  The success of the Burma campaign was achieved on May 17th 1944, but it came with an enormous death toll.  Among the 3,000 U.S. soldiers deployed for this special operations mission only two hundred survived.  One of the last surviving members of the World War II jungle fighting unit known as Merrill's Marauders just died at the age of 99.

Making The Case For Diversity

The argument for a more diverse curriculum is built on the philosophy that culture matters. Students know their own culture, beliefs and values.  What they often do not have is an understanding of the cultures and experiences of groups other than themselves.  We cannot depend on families to fully and accurately educate children about the experiences of other groups of people or to produce a culturally diverse education.  Some might question why they should learn about these “other” people.  The fact that people are asking that question illustrates the need to learn more.  Having a diverse curriculum exposes children to values, achievements and struggles of people other than themselves.  In learning about others, students will find many commonalities among their experiences.

By the time students arrive in the classroom they have all developed some idea of how society works from the confines of their own homes.  The knowledge we learn in our homes needs to be integrated with the experiences and perspectives of different people.  Classrooms should be the place where we foster connections, understandings and examine who we really are as a country.  Exposure to a diverse curriculum helps to achieve this goal.

 

Diversifying the High School Curriculum

In Connecticut,High schools will be required to offer Black and Latino studies courses.  Governor Ned Lamont called it "Long overdue." 

Similarly in 2014, El Rancho Unified School District became the first school in California to adopt an ethnic studies class as a graduation requirement.  Since this trailblazing High School adjusted their graduation requirements many high schools across the country have followed their lead.    

Borinqueneers 65th Infantry

The Puerto Rican experience during World War II and the Korean War is not usually studied in Middle School Social Studies classrooms.  The Borinqueneers or the sixty fifth infantry were involved in Europe during World War II and Seoul during the Korean War.  

When the Korean War began sixty one thousand soldiers from Puerto Rico (almost all volunteers) signed up to support the war effort.  The Borinqueneers were sent straight to the front lines within two months of the start of the war and remained in Korea for years.  In January 1951 they successfully overthrew armies to control important mountain tops in Seoul.   Seven hundred and forty seven were killed in action and one hundred and twenty five silver stars were awarded to this unit.      

761st Tank Battalion: Come Out Fighting

The 761st Tank Battalion played a significant role in World War II.  It was an all Black military unit that endured racism on the home front and the brutality of war in Europe. During the Battle of the Bulge George Patton ordered them into the heart of German held territory.  Their advance played a pivotal role in winning the conflict.  Their courage and strength led them to unite to with Soviet forces earlier then other units.  According to a 1991 documentary entitled "The Liberators" the 761st were the first to liberate Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps.  In total, the 761st spent one hundred and eighty three days on the front lines.  They fought in France, Belgium, Germany and Austria.  Despite their heroism decades went by with any formal recognition. Here is an interview discussing their strength: Black Panthers. I especially like how the interview ends with Major General Patrick Donahoe expressing appreciation for the battalion and recognition that diversity makes us stronger. 

Sonia Weitz: Holocaust Poetry

Teaching the Holocaust can be a very difficult subject to discuss and teach in the classroom.  I often share images of the concentration camps and use document based questions.   Reading and analyzing the poetry of Sonia Weitz conveys the depth of horror and its devastating effects.  

Here is an excerpt from In Memory to My Mother, By Sonia Weitz

I promised I would 

Tell the world...

But where to find the words

To speak of

Innocence and love,

And tell how much it hurts...