The Mission of the Winchester Multicultural Network is to:
- Promote the recognition, understanding, and appreciation of diversity;
- Advocate for each and every person’s civil rights;
- Confront intolerance.
The Winchester Multicultural Network and the Public Schools
From the beginning the Multicultural Network has developed a strong relationship with the school system. We value and appreciate the schools’ growing commitment to strengthening multicultural practices, broadening the diversity of its staff, and infusing multiculturalism into the curriculum. Respect for human differences is a contractual obligation of our educators. Professional development has been an important avenue for achieving this. We have also worked together to address issues of bias and intolerance of all kinds. The Network’s School Impact Committee meets regularly with the Superintendent of Schools.
Examples of the partnership we have developed include:
- Encouraging and supporting teachers to participate in workshops and summer institutes such as those offered by Facing History, Primary Source, VISIONS, and other organizations.
- Raising multicultural awareness through workshops and consultations.
- Holding a public forum, “Not in Our Town” in 1998 when racist and anti-Semitic graffiti appeared in High School bathrooms.
- Publicizing multicultural activities, projects, and assemblies in our newsletter, The Journey.
- Showcasing work done in classrooms at our annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.
- Co-sponsoring programs with Parent-Teacher associations.
- Helping to found the Multicultural Issues Group at the High School, supporting training for their Steering Committee, and working with the Community Service Program Director.
- Working with the administration to increase diversity among our school staff and provide support for those hired.
The Winchester Multicultural Network and the Preschools
Multicultural education begins at a very young age. Children notice differences almost right away and certainly are able to label differences with their early language skills. The Winchester Multicultural Network has worked with the town’s preschools to provide informative programs to help parents and educators feel empowered to promote respect for differences at these formative ages. We would be glad to recommend some books that families and schools can share, as well as other resources. We would be glad to send you a copy of “Teaching Young Children to Resist Bias: What Parents Can Do,” by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
We welcome your ideas, suggestions, and feedback!