Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement Homepage. This is more important now than it was forty years ago, because our world has gotten smaller and our nation has grown more racially diverse. In fact America is the most diverse democracy in the world, but it must also be a democracy united by shared values. Vital to this process is an educational system that has student bodies that are truly representative of that diversity. Only in that way will our young people have an opportunity for the life experiences that will prepare them to live confidently in this complex and economically demanding world.
Racial diversity can reap great benefits.
First, a racially diverse student body can improve teaching and learning by exposing students to different perspectives and experiences. Persons of different races often have different cultural backgrounds. They also often have different experiences in the world and, in turn, often view the world differently. Imagine studying such topics as the Civil War, the proper role of law enforcement in society, or the U.S. Constitution in a racially homogenous environment. Clearly we learn more when we all learn together.