What is diversity, and why do we value it at ATYP?
When we talk about a diverse student population, we mean
that our goal is to bring together students from different school districts,
and students of different races, religions, ethnicities, genders, and
socio-economic statuses. There are several reasons for this. The first, and
most important reason, is that we know that giftedness is found across all
spectrums of humankind. If our student body does not reflect this then we must
work harder to find every young person who could qualify and benefit from ATYP.
Second, everyone learns more when we learn from each other.
When children come to the classroom with different lifestyles, experiences, and
worldviews, everyone gains a better understanding not just of literature and
mathematics, but of each other. We discover new cultures, foods, values, music,
art, beliefs, etc., and we learn that differences aren’t something to be
tolerated, but something to be admired and accepted.
Third, we learn to listen to different opinions, and to
state our own opinions in a civil and respectful manner. If you never meet or
speak with people who hold different views, you never really clarify your own
views. Ask yourself: What’s important to me? Why? Do I really think that, or
did I adopt someone else’s idea without fully understanding what it means? Who
am I as a person? Connecting with others forces you to examine your own
values and beliefs, so while it looks like you’re discovering those around you,
you’re actually discovering yourself.
Sometimes people think that diversity is just a code word
for political correctness, and that could not be further from the truth. The
reality is that we can all benefit from learning and living together, but this
only happens if we think about how we are behaving, speaking, and treating one
another. If you are dismissive of someone else’s opinion, fail to acknowledge
their experience, or start with the assumption that their existence is somehow
“less than” yours then your relationship is already on a path to failure. The
key word in all of our interactions is RESPECT.
No matter where a fellow student goes to school, how they
worship, what their parents do for a living, or the color of their skin, and
regardless of any other differences between individuals, we will continue to
honor and respect all members of the ATYP family. So please be kind and
courteous to your classmates, so that we can all benefit from studying and
working together in a safe and diverse learning environment.
P.S. Even though it’s a book for children, I love Dr.
Seuss’s The Sneetches for reminding me about how to treat people who are
different – for any reason. The Sneetches was originally written as a
push back to anti-Semitism. You can read the book or watch it on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdLPe7XjdKc.
Because you’re never too old for Dr. Seuss.
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