Dr. Seuss's Short Story 'Plain-Belly Sneetches'

Growing up, I had a basic understanding of diversity and the importance of inclusivity. Before attending the University of Maryland, I only considered race and gender when thinking of diversity since those are two of my own identities. Living in residence halls and getting involved in extra curricular activities, my self-awareness and understanding of other identities increased.

Prompt: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY “Describe a circumstance, obstacle or conflict in your life, and the skills and resources you used to resolve it. Did it change you? If so, how?”

Diversity teaches us to accept. I have lived in a very diverse community for much of my life. Highland Park consists of a lot of white people, but also there are a lot of Mexican immigrants. In the high school the races tend to separate themselves, but we also teach each other about our cultures and we learn a lot from each other. Many people have experienced diversity. They learn so much and become more understanding and accepting of other people because they have seen much of their

This course included lessons in both written and oral communication to increase the understanding of student diversity. I participated in discussions on the issues of diversity that affect student learning from diverse groups. With the use of Ruby Payne’s book, A Framework for Understanding Poverty and The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, I examined and reflected on the ethnic and economic diversity in schools and students.

Due to the large Caucasian community that resides in Cabot, it is essential for the school district to provide opportunities for students to be exposed to diversity. Although a school district cannot change its population make-up, it can provide opportunities to its students that teach diversity, tolerance, dignity and respect. Students must realize that, although their every day encounters with students during their school years are limited in regards to diversity, the world that awaits them when they graduate is composed of people of different races, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, etc. It is essential that the Cabot School District provide not only a sound academic foundation for students but a highly, diversified cultural foundation, as well.

The white student population over the years has dropped, and that is a major concern of mine. I want a diverse school where students of all races can come and receive a quality education. Many of the parents in my district are sending their children to private schools, and it is their right to do so, but I feel there are benefits to attending a campus that is multicultural. Students that attend a school that is diverse prepares them for society. Students learn better to navigate adulthood in an increasingly diverse society if they attend diverse schools (Wells, Fox, & Cordova-Coba, 2016). Furthermore, students that attend multicultural schools can help reduce racial bias. As principal, I want to set up meetings with parents of the community and discuss the benefits of a diverse student body. A report that came out in 2011, from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, shows that students in culturally diverse schools have higher average test scores plus diverse schools help reduce racial achievement gaps (“The Benefits of Socioeconomically,” 2016).

Diversity in schools allows students to understand the perspectives of others that come from different backgrounds. It is important for a child’s development to learn how to inter interact, function, and respect those of different backgrounds. Preparing students to participate in society involves teaching them to get along with others and be productive members in a community. Opening their eyes to a world of unique differences and understanding allows them to thrive in today’s society.

What is your story? What kind of challenges did you overcome? There are things that happened to me that not many people really know about, I was abused by my older sister when I was a young child. But that didn’t make me a bad person, it made me a better one. I treat people with respect and kindness, I help my family with the things they need, and I take care of my brother. I still always make time for myself, to draw, to write, for anything really. But I wouldn’t be the same person I am today if these things didn’t happen.

Describe a circumstance, obstacle or conflict in your life, and the skills and resources you used to resolve it. Did it change you? If so, how?

Essay B: Describe a circumstance, obstacle or conflict in your life, and the skills and resources you used to resolve it. Did it change you? If so, how?

I attend a fairly large public school and have attended public schools since kindergarten. While going through years of schooling, I had become friends with students of different ethnicities. I genuinely enjoyed learning about other cultures and how their families carried their customs and traditions from all over the world. Growing up, I was limited to what I could learn, seeing as I was brought up to be accepting of others, and ended up immersing myself into multi-cultural appreciation through my friends. I was blinded by the nature of those that discriminate against others due to race. Never had I considered judging someone for the way they looked. I quickly learned that not everyone thinks the same way.

Paul Gaston, a university professor who has taught for more than 40 years, has witnessed the changes on campus after affirmative action was introduced and concluded that “before African American undergraduates arrived on campus, white students used to feel they had permission to say just about anything that came to mind about race” (Clayton). The ethnic diversity of students has made a remarkable change on campuses today. Now, students not only gain knowledge from their professors, but from their fellow students as well. “It made people [be] more honest, think harder, learn more, and be more sensitive to others,” Professor Gaston commented (quoted in Clayton). A diverse college experience encourages students acclimate to being more tolerant of diversity, thus giving them an opportunity to learn and to live in harmony with people of different backgrounds.

Eileen Gale Kugler, a national advocate for diverse schools, wrote an article about how the diversity in schools makes academic and social improvements. She recalls a memory about a meeting she had. “Parents of fourth and fifth graders were already putting up moving signs on their front yards rather than risk sending their children to a high school that was not majority white. In an effort to debunk the myths, parent leaders from the high school organized meetings in the local elementary and middle schools, bringing students, parents, and faculty from the high school to give testimony to the positive academic and social environment. As the meeting opened to questions, a longtime real estate agent from the neighborhood stood up. His own children had attended Annandale High 15 years earlier, when it was virtually all white. He wasn’t quite sure how he felt about the changes in the surrounding community, which now included an array of immigrants from every continent. “So, what you are telling me is that you are taking lemons and making lemonade,” he said.

Diversity has become a critical part of the philosophy I have developed as an aspiring educator. Through various experiences in my life, I can appreciate how different cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds can positively impact the educational experience of each student. Diversity in my opinion incorporates poverty, race, and equality for the ultimate goal of long term success in a student’s life.

As I look back on my k-12 school experience and reflect on how I saw student diversity; I think that I was not aware of it as much as I am now about it. I do however, I do remember a few time that I did see it, for example in elementary school. I was in ESL and once a week I was pulled out to meet with my ESL teacher. I noticed that it was always the same small group of student being pulled out and so did the student in my class. I personally felt different from them, but at the end of the day I loved going. The reason why was because my teacher made us feel like individuals and let us share our culture with each other. I learned more about others’ diversity and culture in that small amount of time that I was with her then when I was with my actual teacher. Mrs. Mueller made us embrace our differences while still learning the lesson that we needed to go over.