Case Book Five

Babalee Jenkins is on her way from one class to another one. She just received a memo in her teacher mailbox. She missed a teacher meeting after school yesterday. She thought the meeting was non-mandatory, and went to a prior-scheduled dentist appointment. She is dismayed, and yet pleased, to learn that she was put in charge of "International Day" preparations at the school. The memo is clear from her principal that she is to put a lot more effort into this than she did in attending the meeting. She stops and thinks for a moment, and then walks into her classroom.

MS. JENKINS: Hi class, how's everyone today? I really need you to stop what you are working on and pay attention for a couple of minutes. I need your help. I need to know what types of things you have done before on International Day here at this school, and in prior schooling.

S1: Aww, Ms. Jenkins, why? You are always telling us to respect every culture and that we can't learn a culture in a day. Seems like International Day goes right to the heart of your statements that in valuing cultures we don't insult them by trying to show one type of food or one type of clothing or one type of music and say that that is the culture, or represents the culture. What's up?

MS. JENKINS: I was just put in charge of International Day, and I really have to make sure that it is above and beyond whatever you have done before!

S2: Wow, my sympathies. That's a killer. You must have done something really bad for the principal to punish you this way.

MS. JENKINS: I don't think of it as punishment, really. I think of it more as a challenge to be met. How can I take my principles and beliefs and put them into action here? Hmmm…

S3: Punishment or not, I think that the principal is waiting to see if you crack and give up your ideas for true multicultural education, and come around to what this school does. We keep telling you that the school does not show that it values us at all.

MS. JENKINS: I think that the principal values me, and all the learning all of you do. I am guessing he is ready for something new. I need a focus group formed. I have to gather info on what has been and suggestions for what could be. Hands on desk. Hands up when you have a response for the category.

Teacher Notes:

• Most all schools have some sort of cultural awareness activities. The question is the extent to which these have been infused and are truly multicultural in nature, vs. isolated and "focused," such as International Day. As a teacher, it is important to integrate a multicultural focus everyday, and encourage your students to share their cultures in the classroom.