National Diversity Education Program: Holland, MI
Submitted by vkm on Tue, 2007-04-03 18:18.
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Project focus: To foster a culturally responsive educational community through a series of diversity discussion panels and a conference
Diversity Panel Series: "Becoming a Culturally Responsive Educational Community"
Countywide Conference: "Education Excellence for All"
Participants: Dr. Jeanine Dell'Olio, Education Department, Hope College; Kim Douglas, English Department, Hope College; David Douglas, Counselor/Diversity Trainer, West Ottawa Public Schools
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Hope College students in Holland, MI, engage in discussion
after a diversity panel series. |
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Diversity is a relatively new concept in the town of Holland, Michigan, but it is rapidly becoming an important one, as a growing number of immigrants begin to shift the small city's demographics. To help the Holland-area educational community become more aware of, and responsive to, an increasingly diverse community, National Diversity Education Program participants, Jeanine Dell'Olio, David Douglas and Kim Douglas, held a series of diversity panel discussions, and a day-long, first-ever conference to expose educators to a wide spectrum of cultural perspectives.
"The struggle by ethnic groups that have experienced discrimination, has been essential to expansion of democratic rights for all Americans," said David Douglas. "The fight for democratic rights, led by ethnic 'minorities,' has increased democratic rights for all. Diversity education means educating teachers, educational support staff, and students of all ages, about the roles that all members of our diverse society have played in contributing to the development of America. This cannot be done without including the perspectives and stories of all American ethnic groups. Our series of panels allowed teachers and other members of the educational community to learn from the stories of these often excluded populations."
In addition to the conference and panels, Dr. Dell'Olio conducted research into preservice teachers' beliefs about the issues in education that most threaten democracy in America.
Click below for details of the panels, conference, and study of preservice teachers:
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DIVERSITY PANEL SERIES: "Becoming a Culturally Responsive Educational Community"
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Over the course of the 2005-2006 school year, ten diversity panels were presented to the West Ottawa County educational community. The panel event encouraged community dialogues about diversity, especially ethnic and religious, and ways to improve cultural sensitivity in the classroom and in the community. Attendees included classroom teachers at all levels, public school leaders, college faculty members, college students, middle school students, community leaders, and religious leaders, and they described the panels as "insightful," "informative," and "moving." Added Douglas, "We strongly believe the National Diversity Education Program enabled us to achieve increased understanding among our school and community personnel of diverse cultural perspectives."
Panelists from a diverse cross section of the Holland-area population shared their personal stories and experiences. Topics included:
- Understanding Racism
- Migrant Families
- Middle Eastern Families
- Native Americans
- Religious Minorities
- Cross-Cultural Families
- Asian Americans
- Latin Americans
- African Americans
- Non-traditional Families Panel
CLICK HERE for list of questions to panelists (PDF) >>
The panels were videotaped, and the resulting DVDs will be used at required middle school diversity trainings that will be attended by the entire middle school staff of West Ottawa Public Schools–approximately 100 teachers and administrators. The DVDs will also be available for use in Hope College's Urban Education Program.
The panels also allowed for the distribution of a wide variety of diversity materials produced by the Japanese American National Museum and the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, placing these resources in the hands of educators throughout the county, and with Hope College Urban Education students.
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Holland, MI educators chat with panelist Aden Ramirez, a former
migrant worker who went on to build a career in education as a
teacher, principal, and director of bi-lingual education. |
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CLICK HERE to see how these resources inspired one teacher's ideas for her classroom (PDF) >>
"The importance of the panels should not be underestimated," said Douglas. "The voices of groups of people who have previously been ignored or marginalized by the school system will be heard by an unprecedented number of teachers and administrators. The panels also provide networking opportunities between diverse community members and school personnel."
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CONFERENCE: "Educational Excellence for All"
Conference Objectives
- Learn researched-based reasons for the underachievement of ethnic minority students
- View educational experiences through the eyes of a diverse group of students and adults
- Learn methods of responding to the educational needs of a diverse population
- Examine a variety of programs, policies and practices that promote success among diverse student populations
- Learn the importance of including diversity in education
- Apply methods of integrating diversity into a variety of curricular areas
Conference Participation
The event attracted conference participants from eight different school districts and two colleges across the county.
- 9 middle school teachers participated through Program support
- 5 middle school faculty members presented
- 10 Hope College faculty members presented
- Over 40 Hope College students attended
- A number of ethnic minority groups attended, including: Asian, African American, Latino and bi-racial participants
"It was one of the greatest assemblages of professional educators of color that I have witnessed in 15 years of experience in this county," said Douglas.
Conference Keynote Address
Dr. Rossi Ray-Taylor, Executive Director of the Minority Student Achievement Network, delivered the keynote address. She described research-based elements that are essential to the achievement of all students, especially Asians, Latinos and African Americans. The talk captivated attendees as they grappled with ways to create learning environments that are conducive to the success of all students.
CLICK HERE to review Dr. Ray-Taylor's paper, "Lessons Learned About the Achievement Gap" >>
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Conference Workshops
"We wanted to give the teachers classroom curriculum tools that they could use in their schools," said Douglas, "to promote better relations between students of different backgrounds, incorporate diversity into the curriculum, increase student success, and frame diversity as the fundamental and essential value of our American Democracy. Thus we offered an array of workshops that challenged teachers to approach education from a radically different perspective."
CLICK HERE for details of the workshop contents (PDF) >>
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RESEARCH STUDY: "Preservice Teachers' Beliefs About Issues in Education That Most Threaten Democracy in America"
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As a result of her participation in the National Diversity Education Program, Dr. Dell'Olio decided to expand an ongoing study of the attitudes and beliefs of Hope College preservice teachers, to include their beliefs about the issues in education that most threaten democracy in America.
CLICK HERE for highlights of the study's initial findings (PDF) >>
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Jeanine Dell'Olio, Professor of Education, Hope College,
Holland, MI |
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CONCLUSION: Thoughts from the Holland participants
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"Our visit to the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy and the fall orientation program, hosted by the Japanese American National Museum, significantly altered our understanding of and commitment to diversity education. It was quite literally a life-changing experience.
"As Program participants, we are grateful for the opportunity we had to reinvigorate and reinforce the diversity component of the educational programs in the public schools and at Hope College. We strongly believe that the National Diversity Education Program has enabled us to achieve the following qualitative components:
- Exposure of members of the educational community to the idea that ethnic minorities have been essential to the advancement of democratic rights for all people in this country
- Increased understanding of school and community personnel of diverse cultural perspectives
- Increased networking among diverse elements of the school and college communities
- Increased understanding of teachers, county school officials, and Hope College pre-service teachers, of the educational elements necessary for all students to succeed
- Increased motivation of teachers throughout the county, and Hope College Urban Education students, to understand and meet the needs of all students regardless of their cultural and ethnic backgrounds
- Increased ability of the above mentioned program participants to meet the needs of all students
- The expansion of diversity resources available to educators throughout the county
"We believe the impact of the Program will be felt for decades to come as teachers and Hope College students act with enhanced ability to meet the educational needs of all students."
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