IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Glendora: Widening Children’s Circle of Tolerance

In today’s Southern California schools, classes on racial issues may be as important as reading, writing and arithmetic. Yet the demand for multicultural education comes at a time when schools are hard-pressed for cash. Glendora, a relatively affluent city that calls itself “the pride of the San Gabriel foothills,” has turned to volunteers to fill the gap.

What seemed to fit Glendora’s needs was a program called Green Circle, offered by the National Conference of Christians and Jews, that helps students recognize racial, cultural, physical, religious and gender differences and examine how biases affect them and their relationships with others.

Then-PTA Council President Joyce Hughes was among the first to receive the National Council’s diversity training and the program was initiated in 1988; last year, more 400 second-graders took part.

Second-graders were targeted, said Rapkin, because they are in their third year of school, have likely experienced being left out of a group and can grasp the issues and participate in group discussions.

HOW GREEN CIRCLE WORKS

The Glendora program is offered in the fall, with a follow-up session by the original facilitator in the spring. Four weekly half-hour sessions include homework to emphasize a point and offer opportunity for further discussion of topics at home. The first session begins with a circle illustration to symbolize the “circle of caring.”Different-colored and -shaped figures are introduced to widen the circle to family, community, nation and world. Homework: Think about consequences of choosing to be alone in the circle.

In session two, additional figures are added to represent those who may have been left out because of skin color, language or economic differences. Children hear the story of the “churkengoose,” a combination turkey, chicken and goose who is ignored by other animals until he saves them from disaster. Homework: See if any classmates are left out of your circle; make an effort to add someone.

Session three uses different wrapped packages to explore the idea that what is seen on the outside isn’t necessarily what’s inside. Homework: Figure out words and actions to bring others into your circle.

The final session tackles group problem-solving. The facilitator brings an everyday problem to the class, such as name-calling on the play-ground. Students brainstorm solutions and discuss possible outcomes for each.

Each child is given a Green Circle button, and teachers receove a manual that helps them keep the main ideas of the course alive in regular course work. Population: 47,828

Population: by race and ethnicity:

White: 78.2%

Hispanic: 14.6%

Asian: 5.4%

Black: 1%

Other: 0.8

Median household income

Glendora: $46,116

Los Angeles County: $34,965

BENEFITS

KENYON CHAN

Psychologist specializing in the effects of race on children and head of the Asian-American Studies Department at Cal State Northridge

I believe (programs like Green Circle) are quite effective in helping children become aware of their feelings and their own stereotypes and prejudices. If they will have a long-term effect, I don’t think we know that. But it is certainly a more positive direction. It gets kids and their parents talking about these issues. That’s when change really happens.

I think this adds a lot of excitement to the curriculum because (instructors) can use it to teach writing and social studies; they can use it to help students write stories about these issues.

I’d like to see (multicultural education) incorporated throughout the curriculum, (kindergarten through 12th grade), because the issues change as the child develops. The big change happens in middle school when there is peer pressure to be not so tolerant. That’s when kids really need these programs.

TO GET INVOLVED

To become a member, a volunteer facilitator or to host a Green Circle presentation, contact Cindy Yoshitomi, Green Circle Program, The National Conference, P.O. Box 1307, Santa Monica, Ca., or call (310) 458-2772.

GREEN CIRCLE’S SIGNATURE POEM

He drew a circle that shut me out-

Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

But love and I had the wit to win:

We drew a circle that took him in.

--EDWIN MARKHAM, 1852-1940 Source: U.S. Census Bureau