Re: Diversity Issues & Resistant Students

Mike Cole (mcole who-is-at weber.ucsd.edu)
Fri, 3 Oct 1997 15:15:09 -0700 (PDT)

Well, Esteban, at least when you got around to responding you gave us
the whole 9 yards!

Where we seem to have our big success here is with students who have
participated in the 5thDimension classes and seen form themselves how
non-English languages and culture are necessary tools for creating
understanding between themselves and the kids they work with. This does
not mean that you then get unanimity of opinion about political policies,
but it does, it seems give them a totally different outlook on "who those
kids are."

But 5thD associated education is, relatively speaking, expensive, a luxury.
So it can't make much of a mark.

We are experiencing a particular, powerful, form of American-firstness
that bodes no good for anyone. That does not absolve of us trying to change
the conditions/architecture/institutional structures through which we
teach.
mike