Platform : Teaching Kids About Cultural Differences : JUDITH BRINGS : Principal, Franklin Elementary School, San Diego

We are in a fortunate position because our school is already in a naturally integrated neighborhood, so we don’t have to rely on measures such as busing. So in that respect our children have already been exposed to multiethnic cultures and lifestyles. Our school is a mix of Anglos, African-Americans, Latinos, Vietnamese, Koreans, Chinese and Somalis.

However, we still remain proactive when promoting the differences through classroom projects such as reading assignments that help the students better understand each cultural group. In addition, we are always displaying student work in our display cases, focusing on multiethnic understanding. Another key element, and this is where our natural integrated environment takes effect, is that we get our many parents to help out by presenting aspects of their own cultures to the kids. For example, when we were celebrating the Chinese New Year, a group of Chinese parents prepared food and put on a little celebration for the children. Things like this are beneficial and it allows the children to see how their schoolmates celebrate their own cultural holidays.

On the playground, our kids play well together. Sure, there is the usual fighting that happens at school, but generally the children work and live together with no problems. But isn’t that how life should be?