I’d like to respond to one reader’s suggestion of how we could
end educational malaise in our schools. J.G. McCormack suggested
the root cause of educational malaise is not teaching the history
and role of Christianity in Western Civilization.
Teaching Children All Religions Will Help Them Learn About Diversity
Dear Editor,
I’d like to respond to one reader’s suggestion of how we could end educational malaise in our schools. J.G. McCormack suggested the root cause of educational malaise is not teaching the history and role of Christianity in Western Civilization. She says: “Students would learn that life has a purpose and educational malaise would be gone.”
While I applaud the sentiment, (I’m a Sunday School teacher myself) I do not think students should just learn about Christianity. Gilroy is becoming increasingly diverse. In my neighborhood in southwest Gilroy, (close to the new elementary school, across from Eagle Ridge), there are 10 children. Not one of these is what I call a “Wonder Bread” kid. These kids are a beautiful representation of Gilroy’s diversity.
Recently, I tried to explain to my 5-year old, mixed-race son about Martin Luther King Day. (My son is German-Pacific Islander.)
He had great difficulty with the “Whites Only” concept. “But, why would you treat somebody different because of what they looked like?” he asked, confused. The concept had never occurred to him, and made no sense. He was even more shocked to learn Martin Luther King had been killed because he suggested all people should be treated equally.
“They killed somebody for that? But, why? That makes no sense!”
The nine friends he plays with daily on this street are of many different heritages: Korean, Columbian, Filipino, Aztec, Latino and African-American.
His eyebrows furrowed as he tried to work through these difficult concepts.
“So, why does God even make us different colors, then?” he asked me, looking at his skin color more carefully for the first time.
This was one of those big parental moments you don’t want to mess up … “Umm … well … ah! You know how flowers come in every color of the rainbow? And bugs are so interesting because there are so many cool different types of them, in all different colors, sizes and forms? And butterflies are so pretty because they are colorful, and have different patterns? Well, think how dull it would be if all people only come in white. It would be like flowers only coming in one color, or butterflies only coming in white. Or, a box of all white crayons! Or, if there were no rainbow sprinkles! What a terribly boring world that would be!
God makes us come in all colors of the rainbow to make us beautiful.”
He looked down at his skin, studying its olive tones, and he smiled.
So, if we’re going to teach Christian thought, what about the kids from Korea? Are we also going to teach the tenets of Buddhism? How about Islam? How many Americans know the precepts of Islam, other than associating the religion with fanatics who smashed planes into the Twin Towers? Why not start this cultural understanding now, rather than only teaching one thing – Christianity? (The modern equivalent of “whites only.”)
There is so much we can learn from other religions. I never understand my own religion better than when I opened my mind and started studying the peaceful concepts behind the other major world religions. Let us offer this same understanding and enrichment to our kids. To understand that diversity is God’s natural plan, just open your eyes and look around your backyard.
D. Wolf Torres, Gilroy
