Improving Race Relations Through Education: Teaching Children Diversity

An article in the journal Childhood Today (Swiniarski, 2006) offers numerous helpful and resourceful ideas for teaching children about how to become "citizens of the world." This is not a strategy that specifically teaches about "racism" or "racial prejudice"; but according to the author, teaching children about the responsibilities of being "a world citizen" in fact embraces (in a hands-on environment) the issues of multiculturalism.

Swiniarski asserts that her program ("Global Education") - if implemented properly - affords children (and their families) an opportunity to "learn about their planet, its people, and habitats." Moreover, Global Education (GE) teaches children to "respect the beliefs of others," to "contribute ideas," and to "share a sense of belonging in a climate that is safe, accepting of one another, and inclusive of diverse cultures." The GE classroom respects all cultures and avoids stereotypes ("...not all children...
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