History

• Diversity is an issue that has been wrestled with since the landmark Supreme Court decision of Brown versus the Board of Education in 1954. Since then, the need to meet the diverse educational needs of students from all backgrounds has only increased. Diversity pedagogy is a developing trend in the educational world to meet the needs of students in ways that address each student's cultural differences within the classroom. By being culturally aware an educator is able to broaden the scope of his lesson to allow each student a means of identifying with the educational experience and internalize it.
  
  

Teachers in the Classroom

• Educators are on the front lines of diversity pedagogy. These professionals have been influenced in the ways curriculum is designed and implemented from the inclusion of lessons that feature writers from marginalized groups in society to the delivery of information in a more culturally sensitive environment. For instance, diversity pedagogy as it relates to the inclusion of material on slavery in the United States dictates that the information be presented in a way that does not privilege one group of students over another and takes into account the cultural significance of the information being taught.
  
  

Effect on Students

• Cultural and diversity pedagogy influences students in the difference between home life and the school environment. Diversity pedagogy seeks to break down the barriers between the cultural aspects of the home with the alienation that a school can cause. According to the The National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems, when a student feels culturally supported he learns in a way that is relevant to his own diversity experience. This improves memory retention and involvement with the lesson being taught.
  
  

Workplace Implications

• Diversity pedagogy doesn't end with schools. Its influence is felt in offices across the country that undergo diversity training to become more familiar with each coworker's cultural background. This training influences how workers are perceived by one another and can even stop an argument before it occurs by creating an environment that is culturally sensitive and empathetic. An example of this might be refraining from telling an insensitive joke because you realize the damage it may cause to someone of a different cultural background or heritage.
  
  

Societal Interactions

• The ultimate goal of diversity pedagogy is to have the educational model filter into the every day actions of members of society. To have each person operating in a culturally sensitive manner can reduce racial tensions and provide a more widespread understanding of the dangers of uniformity and ethnic polarity. Societal acceptance of diverse cultures reduces the stigma associated with being "different" and changes these perceptions from fear to pride.