My youngest son’s progressive experiential public elementary school was divided into two parts: a bilingual program for native and non-native Spanish speakers and a monolingual program. There was not much integration of kids from the two programs which in practice created a somewhat segregated school. At recess there was one boy from the bilingual side of the school who carried the role of bully. Everyone was scared of him.
Richard Garcia whose job was to support families started a basketball team at my son’s school. They played against the other bilingual school up the street. Suddenly the Spanish speaking and English speaking kids were one team. Everyone loved the kid who they had previously been scared of because now his toughness was in unity with their purpose as well. Basketball provided a common culture. The rules of basketball were a common value. They united in opposition to the other school, with pride of their school, in interdependence on each other’s abilities.
From many times and places. From many cultures, religions, traditions. We are different and if conditions are right, we are one. How do we do that in our schools that have children from diverse backgrounds and languages? While our country and perhaps the world may appear to be splintering, we have an opportunity in our schools to bring kids together so they experience a unity across differences.