GAY GEISER-SANDOVAL -- Educationally Speaking

I went to Celebrate Diversity Weekend at a prestigious East Coast

university and found myself in the least diverse setting I had been in

since high school.

My profession is one where I get to work with all types of people who

were originally from all over the world. Our neighborhood is one where

most every census box is represented. My children listen to stories from

their friends about the native lands they left to come to America.

As far as I can tell, diversity weekends aren’t even meant for all

people of color, especially at a technology university. Apparently, there

is no need to woo some types of students to fill their hallowed halls.

Yet, as I observed the dress and demeanor of the invited guests, this

“diverse” group of parents and students from throughout the country

seemed very similar. They all seemed very intelligent and very

middle-class.

Sometimes, when we go on vacation to other areas, it is almost

shocking to my kids to notice the sameness of the population. They look,

dress, and sound the same. It felt that way to my daughter during this

weekend. As she pointed out, at her school, people from one race don’t

all cluster together. “Diversity weekends” have been her first experience

of segregation. She doesn’t understand why races need to divide

themselves up that way. We talked about how people need the strength of

the group when others “dis” them on first sight.

But, she’s right, you know. It would be nice to celebrate diversity at

the college level like we do at our local schools. It would be better if

you could talk about your family’s traditions and religious beliefs to

those who don’t participate the same way you do. It’s fun to share

dances, songs, and clothing styles of fellow classmates from different

parts of the world. I’m hoping the kids from our community that have

really experienced diversity can change the current outlook at the

college level. I’m hoping that none of their children get invited to

“Diversity Weekend” because our country won’t need that anymore.

Speaking of diversity, Davis School shared its diversity with the

school board earlier this month. They took eight students who spoke

different languages in their homes, and had them tell about their school

in their native tongues.

I had a friend in school whose father’s job required the family to

transfer to Europe for a year. She came back with tales of what it was

like to go to the International School, where children spoke different

languages at home, and dressed, looked, and acted different from all of

us. We were all so jealous! I suspect that the kids at Davis don’t even

know how lucky they are to be going to an international school.

* GAY GEISER-SANDOVAL is a Costa Mesa resident. Her column runs

Tuesdays. She can be reached by e-mail at GGSesq@aol.com.