Tolerance and Diversity; Importance of Education

By: Sumedha Mahesh

Tolerance. Acceptance. Diversity. These three words are words that each and every one of us have heard sometime in our lives. Tolerance, the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with. Acceptance, the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable, typically to be admitted into a group. Diversity, the state of being diverse; variety. These three aspects are taught and encouraged among work areas and any work position in the world, but what about schools? 

In the Cleveland area, most schools strive to educate its students on diversity and tolerance. But has this education been enough among students? I am an Indian origin girl who’s parents are first generation immigrants. Before attending Western Reserve Academy, I attended the Hudson City Schools. For most people who have heard of Hudson, they are well aware that Hudson has a very low diversity rate and consists mostly of individuals of the white race. From the age of five, I had been attending Hudson and until my 7th grade year, I had not experienced any intolerant remarks about my culture, race, or skin color. In 7th grade, however, a peer of mine asked me why my parents hadn’t been deported yet? Later throughout the school year, that kid was found to have made many politically incorrect and racist remarks as the one he made at me. Later, in my 8th grade year, a boy in my grade made a remark by asking if a girl, who had just moved from Pakistan to our school, was here to blow us all up? What is the root cause of these perceptions and assumptions? One of the most obvious reasons would be that our society is highly influenced by the media. Due to many high officials and leaders making such remarks about certain ethnic and cultural groups, many perceptions and assumptions are formed in young adolescents minds. This is very harmful to our society as the younger generation is our future. If these incorrect assumptions are not corrected, a hateful and divided country will be our future. How must we correct such false assumptions?

One of the easiest and most important solutions to this problem is to have diversity and tolerance education mandatory in all schools. While in Hudson, we did have slight conservations about the importance of tolerance and acceptance, but much was not enforced on this topic. In order to make sure that such education is successful, an adequate curriculum must be created that is mandatorily taught in all schools. The enforcement of such exercises and education will result in a accepting, tolerating, and unified nation. Schools will also turn into a safe place where all children and students feel welcomed, ready to learn, and accepted by their peers.