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Have you ever tried an apple crisp or apple crumble before?

Apple crisps are a traditional fall dessert in the United States and are easy to make!

Traditional apple crisp recipes require at least six types of apples. But I usually only used one or two to make it. Do you know why?

Because there are usually only about two or three types of apples in the local supermarket.

Did you know that there are more than 7,500 varieties of apples, but only very few are ever available?

While this newsletter is not about apples and apple crisps, let’s use this example to understand inclusivity and diversity in education.

Inclusivity is about creating equitable and inclusive environments for all individuals. But how often do we take inclusivity as the range of differences and variations within a learning environment?

You see, diversity and inclusion are related but not interchangeable.

While diversity refers to differences, inclusion refers to the practice of actively working to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported regardless of their differences.

So it’s not only about getting all those different types of apples into the supermarket shelves. It’s also about creating shelf space and recipes so they can thrive.

Students benefit from having inclusive learning environments. Some benefits are:

• Increased empathy and understanding by promoting empathy and understanding among students by exposing them to diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Promotes academic success by creating a positive learning environment that fosters a sense of belonging.
• Enhances creativity and problem-solving by encouraging students to consider other perspectives
• Reduces bullying and discrimination by fostering a sense of respect and tolerance for all individuals.

But let's let’s focus on the tolerance piece of it now.

We tend to see tolerance as agreeing or endorsing other people's beliefs or behaviors. But tolerance recognizes that others can hold and express different opinions.

Tolerance is the willingness to accept and respect the opinions, beliefs, and behaviors of others, even if they differ from one's own.

Here’s the thing, often, we believe tolerance is being indifferent, but the opposite is true. Being tolerant involves actively acknowledging and respecting other people's beliefs and perspectives, even if they do not align with one's own.

While tolerating refers to the willingness to respect differences, it does not necessarily mean including them.

Yet to achieve diversity, it’s essential to promote inclusivity but preserve uniqueness. This means actively creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported but not urged to change to “fit in.”

Too often, we think diversity is only about gender roles, race, or learning disabilities. But diversity can look as simple as liking a different color, having a different hobby, using cochlear implants for hearing, or liking the beach more than the lake.

Indeed it’s not about having fuji apples look and taste like golden apples. Or green apples change their color to that of gala apples.

It’s about creating an environment where all types have equitable and inclusive opportunities while preserving the uniqueness of each individual. It’s about respecting differences.

Five strategies to teach kids inclusion and diversity:

1. 🌎Teach history. Teach children about the history of different cultures and their contributions to society. This can help children develop a better understanding and appreciation of diversity.
2. ❤️Encourage empathy. Encourage children to put themselves in other people's shoes and imagine how they would feel in different situations. This can help them develop empathy and understanding towards others.
3. 🎉Celebrate differences. Highlight the positive aspects of different cultures and traditions. Celebrate cultural events and holidays that are important to different groups of people.
4. 📞Foster open communication. Encourage children to ask questions and have open discussions about differences. This can help children understand that differences are a normal part of life and can be celebrated.
5. 🫱🏻Teach tolerance and respect. Teach children to be tolerant of differences, even if they disagree. This can help create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

Will you start using more types of apples in your apple crisp?

Inclusion and diversity are usually hot topics. But it is by opening a conversation about our differences that we will get to know and respect each other. We don't all have to agree, but we can agree to disagree. This is my grain of salt in starting this conversation. Hit the reply button and lets start a conversation on what diversity and inclusion mean for the future of education and parenting.

Thank you for reading.

Until next issue,

Alexandra

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