Tolerance and Respect

Respect Diversity

“Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.” – John F. Kennedy 

Teachers know that teaching students is much more than teaching them reading and math. Part of school learning is teaching students to get along with other people. Young children are very observant and not only pick up on differences, but also notice how we as adults attach value to differences. It is vital to ingrain an appreciation for diversity from the start. Some suggestions on teaching tolerance are to honor special holidays, listen, set high expectations, and include diverse posters and books in your classroom. 

Another helpful resource for teachers is Teaching Tolerance  . Here teachers are able to access free resources to supplement their curriculum and to help create inclusive communities within their classrooms.  Some examples of resources available are learning plans, perspective texts, student tasks, and teaching strategies.