Page 2 - LESSION 20.pmd

Understanding Diversity

20.1 UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY

Let us begin with a classroom where the teacher is linking classroom teaching
Notes learning with food eaten by families during different festivals.

Classroom Scene

Seema is excited today and is not able to concentrate on the classwork given
to her by her teacher. She is eagerly waiting for the lunch break as today, it
is her turn to share her favorite festival food and the details related to the festival
with the entire class. This is how her teacher has linked the lesson on food with
daily lives of students. She has also attempted to sensitize students that different
people of different regions serve and eat different foods on festivals and special
occasions.

Let us reflect on the classroom scene:

• Are all children of the class being involved in this activity?

• Has the teacher been able to sensitise the children about the diversity in
the class?

20.1.1 Defining Diversity

The term diversity originated from the Latin word diversus which indicates
differences. Diverse means 'differing from each other' and 'made up of distinct
characteristics, qualities, or elements'. Being a large country with a large
population, India presents endless varieties of physical features and cultural
patterns. It is a land of diversity in race, religion, caste, language, and so on.
Within school also we see various identities of race, gender, age and social
status. Hence, we need to be equipped to address it in the classroom. The case
discussed in the beginning of this lesson, where Seema's teacher has initiated
a festival food sharing exercise to highlight cultural and regional differences
is a simple initiative the teacher has taken to make children aware of existing
diversity among their peers besides linking the curriculum with daily life.

Diversity, therefore, consists of visible and invisible factors, which include
personal characteristics such as socio-economic background, culture, personality
and workstyle.

In short, the term diversity indicates uniqueness or differences without any
judgment attached to the differences or unique characteristics. Diversity gives
recognition, acceptance and respect to individual differences, irrespective of the
origin.

186 EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION