C.I.+example

Subject: Group x Critical Incident

Topic: Critical Incidents John Gray page 193

Group Names:

Objective Finding - Sensing Problems: John Gray is a speaker who came to have students participate in a psychodrama that would illustrate racism and prejudice in action. During his presentation, Mr. Gray made numerous racial slurs and comments that made some students uncomfortable and angry. The students were then asked to return to their homerooms to talk about what had happened. Many of the kids were upset about how he could so easily say such hateful things. They then related Mr. Gray to people they know in their own life. Everyone then returned to the auditorium to have Mr. Gray explain everything. John Gray then showed how everyone's reactions to these types of harsh comments could create stereotypes.

Fact Finding: The root of the problem is, as Mr. Gray showed, there are many adults who aren’t interculturally competent. To be able to accept diversity kids have to be taught at a young age that they are people that are different from them other wise they will grow up to be adults that don’t accept diversity and the cycle will start all over again.

Problem Finding: The problem was that the adults were not able to handle intercultural students and therefore were biased towards their students. The adults were probably subjected to being prejudice when younger and were now teaching the younger generation to do the same.

Idea Finding: Considering the problem is that the adults were unable to handle intercultural students and were biased, there are a few ideas to handle this. One idea would be to have the students take a class on culture, so that way they are not only taught what the biased adults teach. Also the teachers, or adults could also participate in cultural learning experiences along side the students.

Solution Finding: Out of the two ideas, having the students and teachers participate in a cultural learning experience both would work well. Mr. Gray’s presentation was a perfect example of a cultural learning experience that had an effect on the junior and senior students. The school could have also included or had a separate presentation for the teachers as well, since they seem to be the root to a lot of the issues at the school. The cultural learning experience should be interactive. Mr. Gray’s presentation got the student’s speaking about issues that affect them in their everyday lives at school or at home. Having a cultural learning experience it allows students with different ideas and perspectives to speak about their opinions and beliefs with their fellow peers.

Acceptance Finding: In order to experience cultural diversity, the teachers and the students could attend or facilitate at least one event before the end of the school year that is of a culture other than their own. The teachers could make it a field trip, a culture day in class, or they could each do it on their own. But it is important to include the teacher on this experience. There could be a roadblock of resources, but the teachers and students should be creative if that is the case. You don’t need money to develop someone’s intercultural competence.