Helping Students Learn the Value of Tolerance, Diversity

This research targeted helping educators teach and children (who live in primarily homogenous environments with little diversity) learn about tolerance, the value of diversity, and inclusion. The researcher created a research-based unit of instruction, "Tolerance, Diversity, and Inclusion" (TDI), that was supplemented with instructional materials from the Teaching Tolerance program for Utah's second grade educators. These participants were provided with the TDI unit on teaching about diversity. At the end of the study, educators were asked to complete a brief summated rating scale questionnaire designed to measure participant's beliefs and professional practices regarding diversity education, the TDI unit, and helping students learn about diversity. While all respondents reported valuing the importance of diversity education such value was not necessarily congruent with what material was focused on in the classroom. The majority of participants also felt that being provided with the unit increased the likelihood of them helping students learn about diversity, tolerance, and inclusion; and felt the TDI unit resources were helpful and appropriate.