Reflective Essay: The Value Of Diversity In Our Schools

Diversity is a gift that must be appreciated not only in our communities but also in our schools. Unfortunately, diversity is something that is often not appreciated in U.S. society and in many cases, in U.S. schools. Although I still have much to learn, after my clinical experiences at Loyola I will commit myself to educating my diverse students by supplying them with the support and resources they need to succeed in school. As a future teacher, it is my goal to furnish students, especially English Learners (ELs), with a quality education in which they are applauded and valued for their diversity.
To begin, an educator has a special responsibility to advocate for and seek out social justice. Of course, social justice can be interpreted in a variety of ways, yet it requires that one supports and stands in solidarity with the marginalized, the oppressed, and the poor. There are many groups that could fit into these categories today, such as the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) …show more content…
From my experiences, I have witnessed ELs struggle through school as they fail to receive the necessary support and structure to succeed in their classes. For over two years, I worked at Indo-American Center (IAC), a non-profit organization for immigrants and their families, as a tutor for immigrant and refugee students from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Most of them come from low-income families, speak various languages, and have different religions. These students brought a wealth and great diversity of cultural knowledge and lived experiences to both IAC and to their individual schools. Other students, and even myself, immensely benefitted as we were able to learn about different cultures and ways of living from our peers. Moreover, from a young age these students were able to recognize and value the differences amongst them instead of highlighting and criticizing the things that made them