What are the factors that widen the cultural diversity gap in school?
The cultural diversity gap in schools can widen if the teachers and students do not keep an open mind and do not appreciate each other’s diversity. Failure to appreciate each other’s background by assuming and being biased has been known to widen cultural diversity in schools where other students are favored over others. It is vital to get information and understand the differences among the students and teachers in terms of culture, race, religion, color, and socio-cultural diversity. Many schools have failed to gather this information, which has led to a broader gap in school; therefore, leading to poor performance, dropouts, and unfairness to both students and teachers.
Furthermore, school administrators failing to come up with policies, rules, and regulations that reduce cultural diversity in schools. Rules and procedures in schools instill values such as respect, fairness, harmony, integrity, proper communication, and teamwork among available cultural diversities; hence, widening the gap in schools. Policies that do not build good and working relationship among students, teachers, administrators, and parents widens the cultural diversity in schools and can paralyze school operations negatively.
Moreover, failure to allow free interaction of students and teachers from different cultural diversity has widened the gap. It can be enhanced by isolation and not being sensitive to other culture’s way of life, abilities, capabilities, communication strength and weaknesses, efforts, and resilience. If the school does not accommodate and appreciate these differences, it will lead to conflicts, aggression, misunderstanding, lack of teamwork, and bullying; therefore widening the cultural diversity gap in schools.
Additionally, if the administrators hire teachers from one race, religion, color, and community will widen the gap because students come from diverse cultures. Those who feel there is discrimination of other cultures will not appreciate the lack of inclusivity among the various cultures. Besides, promotions and senior positions preserved for certain race, ethnicity, religion, or a group of individuals will negatively widen the cultural diversity in schools because of open discrimination.