Diversity Education Does Not Work

I first encountered "diversity education," and the concept of "diversity" in general, by way of a local high school newspaper a few years ago. The newspaper had an article on this topic, and also brief interviews with some students, asking their opinions. One student, whom I had known for a couple of years, stated the opinion that diversity education is a good thing-- because it helps people learn about other people's differences. After reading the comment, my first thought was "Why don't people just ask their friends and neighbors who are members of those groups?" It did not take long for me to answer the question myself. However, it did not prepare me for a question another student addressed to me: "If you weren't taught diversity education in school, how is it you didn't grow up to be a racist?"

My elementary school had taught about "the melting pot." The idea was people came to the United States from everywhere, and, while bringing their own cultures and customs with them, became a part of the whole. People had pride in their heritages, continued to practice their customs, yet the entire point was to become Americans-- not intentionally set themselves apart as "different." In many instances there was discrimination; in these instances, many lived by the principle "there is strength in numbers;" but taking taking problems and solutions that were valid in the distant past into the twenty-first century is nothing but a matter of personal choice. In some environments-- including this one-- that "choice" has backfired. Students being in the position of learning about "diversity" in the classroom is one example.

When I was taught about the melting pot in elementary school, it fit in with what I had already been taught at home. My parents had come from two entirely different backgrounds, and had very little in common, but this was one point on which they both agreed. Their mutual viewpoint was any manner of judgment based on someone's skin color, racial or ethnic or national backgrounds, was not only flat-out nonsense, it was low-class ignorance. The word used at the time, covering racism and all other forms of bigotry, was "prejudice"-- and prejudice was intolerable. They used to say "People are People;" and that point of view has never changed for me, either.

Was my parents' viewpoint unusual for their generation, or did their own personal experiences figure into it? I'd say possibly-- but very little. The general consensus is there was a difference between right and wrong, and to judge anyone based on anything other than "the content of their character" was wrong.

I personally never encountered racism until I lived in a Southern state for a few months. While racism in general makes my skin crawl, there was an even worse aspect of it: hypocrisy-- Whites who were "huggy-sweet" to minorities in person, yet said exactly what they thought of those races behind the people's backs. Even if segregation was illegal, some took it as far as they could-- driving their kids to schools in different cities so the kids would not have as many minority classmates. Individuals who had good friends or partners of different races, and even schoolchildren who happily went to school alongside youngsters of different races, were referred to in very negative terms. I will be quick to add these scenes did not occur in the distant past-- they were only a decade ago.

"And then I moved into this region." I began encountering individuals who had that same "separate-- and not necessarily equal" attitude. It is clear in both their vocabularies and their behaviors. Most individuals "stick to their own kind," and the only time they cross that line is when they want something. The idea seems to be "you're only good enough to help us out when we need something-- but not good enough to be our friend."

For a long time I'd thought this so-called way of life was limited to middle-agers and older people. However, it has also affected the younger generations. During the last few years I've lived near a high school-- not the one mentioned above-- and while seeing little groups of students walking around together or hanging around together is a commonplace thing, "diversity" is not a part of it.

This area is not far from the birthplace of John Wayne. John Wayne was the actor who, in the past, popped out with such 'gems' as " I don't feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them... the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves ..." and "I believe in white supremacy until blacks are educated to a point of responsibility. I don't believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people..."

"John Wayne: a true Iowan." His common viewpoints account for why "diversity education" is necessary-- and also why it will not work. Concepts such as community, neighbors, and friends, when they are all about EXclusion instead of INclusion, continue to give kids the wrong ideas. When youngsters have to go to school to "learn about other people's differences," there's something very wrong with the entire lifestyle. While it backfires in many ways, one of the most important is it continues to uphold the viewpoint that there is 'us' and there is 'them.' Frankly, I believe students-- young people who are in the process of developing their own points of view-- deserve better.