The myths that poison our thinking about diverse schools
Myth 1: the best school for my child is the one with the highest standardized test scores
Myth 2: one style of school leadership will work in every school
Myth 3: the best teachers prefer homogeneous middle-class schools
Myth 4: diverse schools can't provide rigorous classes
Myth 5: diverse schools are not safe
Myth 6: family beliefs and values will be threatened if we expose our youth to people with different perspectives
Myth 7: minority parents don't care about their children's education
The realities of diverse schools and of our society
School reality 1: students with different backgrounds and experiences bring new insights to the classroom
School reality 2: students who closely interact with people from different backgrounds learn that reality extends beyond their own limited experiences
School reality 3: stereotypes and prejudice break down when students have personal contact with members of other races and cultures
Society reality 1: our youth must learn how to actively participate in a diverse national and international society
Society reality 2: our nation's school population is becoming more diverse, but our schools are becoming more segregated
What about schools near me?
How to reap the rich harvest of our diverse schools
School boards: leading their community
Superintendents: visionaries with a collaborative spirit
Principals: doing whatever it takes
Teachers: reaching for every child
Parents: the critical connection
Students: what it's all about
Community members: closing the loop.
