Teaching diversity - why discuss diversity?

Teaching diversity - why discuss diversity with schools and students?

A forum focusing upon the teaching of diversity issues and whether or not we should be discussing diversity in our schools and with our students is being hosted by the NZ National Commission for UNESCO as part of the NZ Diversity Action Forum 2010 in Christchurch this month.

More than half of all babies born in New Zealand last year were of Maori/Pacific, Asian or mixed heritage and it is vital that decision makers consider diversity in our classrooms and communities says NZ National Commission for UNESCO chair, Bryan Gould.

"New Zealand's demography is changing rapidly and teaching professionals, academics and decision makers must plan for the future now and work out how to move forward together," says Mr Gould.

The 2010 International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures provides an opportunity for New Zealand to re-address these issues and to give support to those charged with implementation of teaching diversity within New Zealand's new Education Curriculum. The UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity was adopted unanimously in the wake of the events of 11 September 2001: the UNESCO General Conference was the first major international forum to be held after those terrible events.

"The declaration saw member states reaffirm their conviction that intercultural dialogue is the best guarantee of peace: the cultural wealth of the world is its diversity in dialogue," says Mr Gould.

"Talking about diversity with schools and students is a discussion that we need to have in New Zealand."

Teaching diversity - why discuss diversity with schools and students?

Date: Monday 23 August 2010

Time: 3.30pm-5.30pm

Venue: Christchurch Convention Centre, 95 Kilmore Street, Christchurch

http://www.hrc.co.nz/home/hrc/racerelations/newzealanddiversityforum/2010diversityforum/teachingdiversity.php

ENDS