"We Don't Say Those Words"

Towards the end of each school year, an employee from the County Library comes to talk to our students about the summer reading programs that they are offering.  Last year, the person who came and presented to my kindergarteners had some sort of disfigurement to her face.  My class listened really well while she spoke and she was very good at holding their attention.  They seemed to respond well to her, but I was concerned that one of them would make an inappropriate comment to her about the way she looks.  At the end, she asked if anyone had questions.  The first question she took, a boy asked her, “How come your face is different?”  I was embarrassed at first, but she reacted really great.  She calmly told them that everybody is just different.  She was born like that, and it’s just what her face was like.  My entire class just kind of nodded and accepted her explanation.   Afterwards, I apologized for that student’s comment. She told me that there was no reason to apologize because of course children would notice that.  She then complemented the way he asked and the way the class accepted her response and accepted her.  It made me feel really good about the lessons I had taught them throughout our ‘We are all the same, We are all different,’ and ‘Diversity’ units, along with the day to day lessons I try to instill.  It is natural for children to notice diversity.  However I feel that creating an environment where diversity is a ‘taboo topic’ sends the message to children that it is a bad thing.  It is important to allow them to notice, ask questions, and discuss.  It is equally important to work with them on how it is most appropriate to go about these conversations.