AZ: Students learn diversity with skin-tone paints

The Arizona Republic ^ | Aug. 27, 2002 | By Yvonne Wingett

[hsmomx3]

Some Phoenix children are learning the world is not just black and white.

It's mocha, gingerbread, melon, wheat, toast, peach, or ebony, buff and sand - all shades of the skin-toned art supplies Phoenix's Headstart program has started using so preschoolers of all colors can draw accurate representations of themselves.

"Not only can we teach our students that darker skin colors are good, we can teach other children of lighter skin tones that (having dark skin is) a positive," said Vincent Medina, 26, who teaches about 20 preschoolers at the Travis L. Williams Family Service Center, 4732 S. Central Ave., one of seven centers run by the city.

The change was prompted by low ratings in the "multiculturalism" category in a self-assessment. The centers now stock more multicolored clay, crayons, markers, paint and construction paper, said Lisa Eversole, a program supervisor at Travis Williams. "It brings out conversation with the children, which then allows the teacher to go into diverse conversations - like how we're all different, but alike," Eversole said.

A decade ago, students rarely had access to such a rainbow of diverse shades - having to mix colors to get to match all skin tones. Four-year-old Alexis Acevedo doesn't have to do that. "I wouldn't like (to draw) just White people," said Acevedo of Phoenix. "I like brown people and pink people, too."

[End Times Sentinel]

"Not only can we teach our students that darker skin colors are good, we can teach other children of lighter skin tones that (having dark skin is) a positive,"

Sounds like Mr. Medina has some issues with White people. I’m so glad he can work it out through planting ideas impressionable minds at taxpayers expense.

Owl_Eagle

” WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"

[Jakarta ex-pat]

"The change was prompted by low ratings in the "multiculturalism" category in a self-assessment"

This should stop the kids from watching Snow White.

and as for calling those poor people dwarfs.

Disgusting, I tell ya.

[billybudd]

Not only can we teach our students that darker skin colors are good

Giving moral value to a skin color ... now that's what I call progress.

[What Is Ain't]

Four-year-old Alexis Acevedo doesn't have to do that. "I wouldn't like (to draw) just White people

Just had to get that hate-whitey line in. I wasn't aware that Crayola only produced white crayons. You learn something new every day.

[APBaer]

Do they have class trips to the Neverland Ranch, now *There's* a show and tell opportunity.

[queenofsardonia]

My two oldest daughters consistently use blue and purple to draw themselves. I wonder where that rates on the old "multiculturalism" category of the self-assessment test?

[Orual]

Too bad they're not using these colors.