In addition, self awareness, awareness of others and sensitivity to self and others in regard to diversity can and should be a major component of any comprehensive school guidance program. School counselors know how to communicate effectively with others regardless of their or the other person's cultural background. And, through structured guidance and counseling approaches all students and teachers can be taught these facilitative communication skills. This increases student awareness of and sensitivity toward others regardless of race or cultural background. Not only will this create a classroom environment more conducive to learning, it ensures that students learn new skills which will ultimately lead to a better understanding of others and to a valuing of diversity in the school.
School counselors hold the key to the teaching and the valuing of diversity.
Increasing multicultural understanding. Bridging the gap through interpersonal skills. The teacher as facilitator. Joe Wittmer is a Professor of Counselor Education at the University of Florida, Gainesville. This publication was prepared with funding from the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education under contract number RI88062011.