Campus Wide Cultural Diversity
Edward Small

There is a wide range of culturally diverse events taking place at the University of Delaware. They range from general things such as intramural sports to things such as activities arranged by Fraternities and Sororities to very specific activities such as programs that deal directly with cultural diversity itself. Each of these activities has its own way of promoting cultural diversity for people of all races, gender, ethnicity, etc. These three activities will be focused on in this article.

Intramural sports are a great way to promote cultural diversity. In these activities people of all races, genders, etc. come together to focus on one goal...winning. There is no level of skill that has to be obtained in order to participate in these activities so, no one is excluded. In these activities, a lot is learned about the different personalities of the different team members.

Fraternities and Sororities host many activities that range from parties, to barbecues, to many other fun-filled activities. These functions promotes cultural diversity because they bring together people of all ages, genders, races, etc. to socialize and basically, have fun together.

On a more serious note, there are workshops that deal directly with cultural diversity from all aspects. In these workshops topics such as racism and discrimination are dealt with. These workshops are a bit on the serious side but they are still pretty fun.

There are many other culturally diverse programs on the University of Delaware’s campus. These are just a few that caught my eye. As they say “different strokes for different folks”, so you may want to see what catches your eye.

The Water is Wide, by Pat Conroy, is an excellent story of an ambitious school teacher who’s life is changed by the culture of Yamacraw Island. Pat Conroy went to the underdeveloped island to modernize the inhabitants, but instead came to an understanding of their livelihood. The island of Yamacraw is located off of South Carolina and is a world apart from its mother land of the United States. Conroy faces many hardships while on the island such as no phones, no recent textbooks, no administration, and no support from the people. Mr. Conroy has to develop new teaching techniques to reach the children of Yamacraw. He must bring mundane thought processes to a level that illiterate middle school children will understand. Through all of these adversities, Pat Conroy was able to reach an understanding of this new civilization, and come to a better understanding of himself as a teacher.

This true life recollection of events should be on every teacher’s reading list. It portrays a teacher’s struggle in dealing with kids that have been exposed to a totally different culture than he has ever experienced. Today, children come from different backgrounds with a unique story all to themselves. It is our responsibility to educate ourselves about different teaching techniques to accommodate these cultures. The Water is Wide is an excellent resource for any teacher to understand what the other side of the coin looks like. It has taught me to become fully aware of the culture of an area before making assumptions about students knowledge. Every region of the United States is different, and the people that make up those areas are different as well. Education has numerous meanings to various people, and we must find that definition before starting our teaching careers. An excellent teaching tool for any teacher, but a must to future teachers is Pat Conroy’s, The Water is Wide.

“I am a Promise”
Bre-Anne Brown

Reality--that single word sums up the theme of the program “I am a Promise”. This program was filmed over a one year period at the Stanton Elementary School in Philadelphia. Stanton is designated as a Chapter 1 school which receives Federal Funds to help educate disadvantaged, poor kids who have tested below national norms in reading and math. Ninety percent of the 725 students, all African American boys and girls ages 4-10, come from poverty and single parent homes. Diana Bernie was the principal and driving force at Stanton for three years.

During the course of the program the trials and tribulations of Diana Bernie are shown. A good part of the school day is filled with handling discipline problems, such as one child causing another to cry. Bernie stressed that every individual is responsible for their behavior. At Stanton, a lot of intelligent children have been placed in learning and behavior disorder classrooms. Some of these children have been prescribed medication, such as Ritilin. In one incident, a student refused to take his medicine and in retaliation struck out toward the school nurse.

Bernie not only worries about the welfare of the students while they are on the school yard but also as they leave school. One morning a second grade child found a syringe, even though extensive clean up had occurred around the grounds. The principal “prays everyday nothing will happen at dismissal time”. Most days, as the children leave the grounds they must walk through a group of policemen.

Stanton’s mission, every child, every day, every way, experience academic success, is held close to Bernie’s heart. In the mornings, Bernie encourages all to have a great day. She believes that each student is given a set of special fingerprints and those prints enable them to give to the world. She preaches that success has no limits. If necessary, children will come to school early or on Saturdays. Many days a week Bernie will arrive to Stanton before the sun rises. In her mind, this is her time to reflect, or her piece and quiet time.

In the end, we learn that Bernie left her position. She felt that she could no longer continue without more support and resources from the school district of Philadelphia. In a touching interview, Bernie weeps and states, “All children need opportunity to have whatever they need”. She is angry that kids are sold short, and as a result, their future is uncertain.

It is important, not only for teachers and administration, but for society to take notice and be educated as to the occurrences and conditions of schools around the country. It is unrealistic to think that all runs smoothly and there are no flaws. In order to ensure opportunity for learning, involvement from parents and society is necessary. The children of today are tomorrow’s future. It is in society’s best interest to take that into consideration.

This video gives the viewer a better understanding of the environment that many students encounter. Hopefully, others will be touched by this program and realize that these young children have no control of their environment and they are taking one day at a time. This captivating program is a must see for all.