MARCH GUIDANCE NEWS

 Relating to Black History Month in February students at Cleveland learned about the universal ways in which we are similar to each other and developed greater tolerance for and understanding of individual differences, which can make a class (or a society) stronger and more interesting.  Students were taught not to prejudge people simply because they are different or have disabilities.  Children will be happier, if they learn to accept other people's unique characteristics as well as their own.

The realization that people are not all the same-that they have different abilities, and different likes and dislikes-help children accept their unique characteristics.  The realization that variety is desirable gives children freedom to be creative.  It helps them to accept their own ideas as well as the ideas of others.

To help show children that other people may have preferences different from what the child prefers, emphasize that it is natural and acceptable for people to have different likes and dislikes.  To illustrate each person's uniqueness to children you might use the following example:  Thumb prints or fingerprints are like people-they are unique.  (No two are exactly alike.)