Posted on 04/24/2003 9:22:44 AM PDT by Jakarta ex-pat
The Talbot County Board of Education has passed a resolution to require all school employees to complete sensitivity/diversity training.
"I think this is going to be a tremendously positive step for us in the future," said assistant school superintendent Karen Salmon.
The training will be a 15-hour, one-credit course that will first be offered May 7. Salmon said she will be among the first group to take it.
School officials set a goal of instituting a mandatory diversity and sensitivity class in the five-year strategic plan approved last year.
Last month, the school board met with Minnie L. Reynolds, director of multicultural education and minority achievement for Charles County Public Schools. Reynolds described the diversity class instituted in Charles County four years ago.
The class came about as a result of the county's efforts to close the achievement gap between white and minority students, a gap that is also present in Talbot County.
Reynolds said Charles County has seen the gap narrow since starting the sensitivity class. The Charles County course - offered on Saturdays, during the summer and on professional development days - is 12 hours of instruction, and employees are required to take it by 2005, she said.
The resolution passed Wednesday reads as follows:
"Whereas, the Talbot County Board of Education strives to provide a high-quality education for all Talbot County youth; and,
"Whereas, the Talbot County Board of Education ensures that all students will be taught in classrooms with high-quality teachers; and,
"Whereas, the Talbot County Board of Education provides training for all employees to improve their performance; and,
"Whereas, the Talbot County Board of Education is committed to eliminating the minority achievement gap; and,
"Whereas, the Talbot County Board of Education is requiring all new employees to take the above course by the end of their first year; and,
"Whereas, all current employees will have three years to complete the course; and,
"Whereas, the Talbot County Board of Education will provide a 15-hour, 1-credit course on sensitivity/diversity training for certificated employees.
"Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Talbot County Board of Education shall require all new employees to successfully complete the above course within the first 18 months of employment, or July 1, 2008 if currently employed, and be it further resolved that the Talbot County Board of Education shall require certified employees to successfully complete the above course as a condition of certificate renewal after July 1, 2008."
The resolution was signed by school board president Jo Ann Asparagus and school superintendent J. Sam Meek.
On the one hand, you could hold students to high standards and make them work. There is evidence that this really works. Or, you can convince the teachers that student failure is caused by deep-seated insensitivity on the part of the teacher. It's HER fault, not the student's fault. I'm not sure that this will result in more educated students.
"Welcome to tolerance camp. You are here because you would not accept people's differences."
"Because you refuse to accept the life choices of your fellow man. Well those days are now over. Here you vill verk, every hour of every day until you submit to being tolerant of everybody. Here, intolerance... will not be tolerated."
>;)
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-Eric
>;)
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-Eric
>;)
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What sexual orientations are included?
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