I am an HR major, so I know how trainers approach diversity issues. There will "always" be a need for diversity training in the workplace...in the REAL WORLD. But I don't see how that would fit into the school system. Maybe because I have studied so much about andragogy (adult learning/teaching) that I don't see a need for schools to have a a class or seminar on "Diversity Learning" I think that the adult education field wants to take that responsibilty, including HR. All the talk and workshops that go along with diversity training can go in one ear and out the other with students, esp. if you go to a school where there really is no diversity to practice your new skills...but, if you work for a firm or an organization where they feel diversity training is an issue to be handled and is very important to the company, then I think it would "stick" with unenlightened folks more so when they know their survival at the company is dependant on it. Of course, this is just my theory..
I also went to a Catholic High School, but I didn't have the experiences some people here have had about not learning our history. My school was a fair mix of white and black, with few hispanics and asians. I can say that while I didn't learn all the who's who of black history, my american history teacher tried his best to include black history into the mix. His efforts were not included in the textbook, but I remember doing a family tree, and discussing how our family's were a part of American History, learning about slavery, and how it affected blacks, bringing in soul food, and discussing how it came to be soul food, how blacks voted in presidential elections, and how "we" switched from the GOP to being Democratic, and a few other things. He was a white man, and while we didn't necessarily learn the "big names" we learned how black culture has shaped American history...okay that's my spiel..
We also had our diversity training in other areas of the school experience. It shouldn't be limited to history..what about English, Religion, Civics, and other classes?? I gained an appreciation for black literature from a white man who taught my jr. english class..who would've thought?? So, I guess what I'm trying to say is the schools may be doing their part in diversity training, just not in the way a trainer would by developing a workshop geared for it.
And with Coral, I give her some slack..1)we don't know how MTV has edited the first episode, and what they left on the editing floor. 2)Mike was making the situation as long and messy just as much as Coral. Remember when she was like he should get a haircut?? I think that was her way of breaking the tension, and to make fun as way of showing she wasn't mad, but of course he brings it back up, and now she's hot and angered again. 3)Mike won't let it go....in his confessionals all he talked about was Coral...maybe he has a thing for her, and they are playing childrens' games, like hitting each other to say tey like each other...
Just something to think about..
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"I am not yet the author of my life; I am still it's unenlightened protagonist"
---Unknown
[This message has been edited by jali0004 (edited July 13, 2001).]
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