Our country is currently involved in a rigorous election process to fill the highest position in the land, the president of the United States of America. One of the most publicized factors in this year’s election is the diversity found in the leading candidates. The Democratic nominee will be an African American man or a white woman. The Republican nomination was being sought by a Baptist minister, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a senior citizen. Our nation is embracing one of its greatest strengths: our diversity.

Our nation is made up of tens of thousands of diverse communities. We live and work in one of them. We can drive the streets of Fairfield and clearly witness our diversity. It can be seen in our churches and our businesses. It can be heard in our speech and in our music. It can be tasted in our restaurants and grocery stores. Our diversity is welcomed as one of Fairfield’s greatest attributes.

Diversity is also evident in our schools. At West Elementary School, many of our students were born right here in Fairfield, Ohio. Every day, however, they learn side by side with our children from Cambodia, China, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saipan, Senegal and other places. Our students are Asian, Pacific Islanders, Hispanic, black, white and multiracial. We learn together, and we learn from one another. Our district’s strategic plan calls for us to develop culturally responsive practices. In the classroom, our teachers work to understand, not just be aware of, the ways that a child’s cultural background affects how he or she thinks and learns.

At Fairfield West we want to celebrate the wonderful diversity that is in our school and our community. At 7 p.m. Friday we will hold our second annual Cultural Heritage Night. It is a time for sharing what makes us unique and special. Families can sign up to host tables that will enable them to share their culture, ethnicity, family heritage, and/or religion. Last year we had tables about Senegal, India, Cambodia, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Guatemala, African American inventors, and the Jewish faith.  There was a wide variety of artifacts, pictures, information, games, food, clothing, symbols, books and maps. We are hoping to have even more displays this year.

Our fourth-grade chorus, the Westernaires, will perform. They will sing three African American spirituals and “America the Beautiful.” A “down East” dance will be demonstrated and taught to the song “Chimes of Dunkirk.” We will share videos on diversity. Guests will taste foods from various countries and view artifacts from around the world. It should be a great evening of sharing and learning.

Fairfield is a great community, because we are a diverse community. Diversity is a strength, not a liability. We hope to highlight that strength by sharing our uniqueness and celebrating our differences. This important event is open to our entire school family and anyone in our community. It is an evening of information and good will. We hope to make our Cultural Heritage Night a staple in the school calendar for years to come.

Roger Martin is the principal of West Elementary School. He can be reached at martin_r@fairfieldcityschools.com

Published in the Fairfield Echo, Feb. 14, 2008