Teaching diversity: what it is and its importance 

Nowadays, classrooms contain groups of students with great diversity. Differences in terms of social, ethnic and cultural aspects; students who are poorly motivated or with high capabilities, students with special educational needs, etc. All of this leads to the teaching and learning processes being based, not just on the different educational levels, but also requiring an adaptation and flexibility in the classroom and support at all levels involved in education.

Faced with this reality, respect for diversity is one of the key elements in fostering co-existence and, therefore, education for peace. A responsibility that should also be exercised at home. 

What does teaching diversity mean?

Teaching diversity is a concept, a philosophy or an ideology of education from justice, equality, equity and freedom. It means teaching respect for diversity as a manifestation of different capabilities, to avoid and prevent discrimination and promote equal treatment in education and social integration, both within schools and at home.

The importance of teaching diversity

In schools, teaching should turn this concept into a reality, using varied and flexible learning strategies, responding to the needs of everyone, based on respect and human rights.

Teaching diversity is teaching children to accept and integrate everyone as part of our lives, promoting respect for other people’s capabilities, in addition to what makes them individual and their differences, in relation to the circumstances, thoughts, beliefs and ideologies of others and ourselves.

6 reasons to teach diversity 

1. It is important to teach children to see the world and things from different angles and perspectives, in addition to encouraging flexibility in thought, so they can become adults who are capable of taking other views or perspectives into account that differ from their own.
2. Things that are different make us think, reason, discuss...they offer us new experience and knowledge, other thoughts; they make us see different realities and not just our own, which sometimes pushes us towards being intolerant, inflexible, demanding and classist.
3. Because teaching them empathy and respect for diversity is positive; being charitable, tolerant and respectful. This will enable children to grow up with the human values needed to live in society.
4. Human beings are different; therefore, we can't educate every child under the same paradigm. 
5. Because society is its different cultures, its languages, its ideals, its skills, its weaknesses, its strengths, its opinions, its people, its ethnicities, etc., which all contribute to each other.
6. Teaching emotional development is key to viewing diversity, taking into account the real needs of each human being and their way of existing in society.