The Importance of Celebrating a Multicultural Classroom

What is the most important lesson learned in my Language Arts class? Is it how to write a research paper? Is it the difference between a proper noun and a common noun? I feel that the most important lesson that is imperative to the growth of my students is tolerance and respect of others. In creating the future of our troubled country, teachers have a responsibility to fight ignorance. Will the students be able to fight ingrained intolerance or bigotry? I am not naive to think that I or any other teacher has a magic wand to erase all ignorance, but we do have an awesome power.

My first teaching job was in a private school that was made up of several races and religious backgrounds. The majority were Muslims students. The faculty faced the daunting task of teaching tolerance of Muslim students in a post 9/11 society. I did not preach to my students or force complete faith in my fight against ignorance. Instead, I chose to respect my students and believe in each one of them. In a open and accepting classroom environment, I learned that students are more apt to want to learn. The most important project I gave to them was a autobiographical speech. I required each of them to speak to their classmates about what makes them unique and special. This speech was to encompass their culture, religion, hopes, dreams, beliefs, goals, likes/dislikes and most importantly how they view the world.

I was overwhelmed with pride as the class broke out in applause for a seventh grade Muslim girl who ended her speech with a simple phrase: "I dream of a day in the future when people see me as simply a person and not the threat and hatred that burns in only a select few of people who share my culture. I am beautiful. I am full of peace and kindness. I will never give up on people, please don't give up on me."

It was then that I realized that teaching is what I was meant to do. I love teaching; it is my passion. It is a fight I wish to fight. My goal of this piece is to encourage all teachers to not look at your students with a perception that being colorblind is the way to go. Teachers need to embrace differences and celebrate what makes our country so amazing.