As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 160,000 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken. Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 18,613 employees including 10,000 teachers in 220 schools.
21 Mar 2001
The Dallas Independent School District has selected today, March 21, the United Nations' International Eliminate Racism Day to kick off the second phase of its Educating One Race, Many Cultures campaign. Started in 1998 by DISD Multicultural Education Department, the campaign is designed to reach and educate students in the classroom about the district's multicultural population.
Educating One Race, Many Cultures focuses on the deeper and more complex differences that are often cultural, said Clarence Glover, DISD executive director–Multicultural Education. "This campaign is to continue the district's transition from a monoculture education system to an effective multicultural system. Also, the campaign helps teachers to effectively reach a multicultural student body. "
As part of the kick off, all campuses have been provided an award-winning Educating One Race, Many Cultures poster to hang in classrooms, libraries and cafeterias. Students have been given the 8 Rules for Being Interculturally Cool bookmarks. Teachers have been given suggested classroom activities to help promote multicultural education.
The Multicultural Education Department launched its Educating One Race, Many Cultures website today, March 21. The site will include a range of information from multicultural and diversity research to traditions and celebrations to poetry and photos. To visit the website, go to www.dallasisd.org/depts/med
Note to Editors: Listed below are two schools that are having activities today as a part of the Educating One Race, Many Cultures. With prior arrangements, the media may visit these locations for video and photo opportunity.
• Harrell Budd Elementary, 2121 South Marsalis Avenue, MapscoŽ key 55N A multicultural song and dance assembly presented by the Voices of Harrell Budd Choir, Inflight Dancers and Harrell Budd Eagletts. 1 p.m., Auditorium
• Everette Lee DeGolyer Elementary, 3453 Flair Drive, MapscoŽ key 23D Sixth graders will be participating in multicultural activities in the Media Center. Art students will be designing African masks. Also, a Greek Roman Vikings Display will be on exhibit. 2 p.m., Media Center