ABSTRACT
Families are an essential element and basic unit to the fabric of our society. As our society becomes more diverse so also does what constitutes a student’s family. As educators, we must have an inclusive view of the fabric that makes up the student’s family rather than assuming a viewpoint in concert with previous particular notions about what is a family and how it should work. This is not to say that a person’s cultural beliefs or values about families are invalid. It does mean that the assumption should not be made that one’s beliefs and values are the only valid ones regarding family. School leaders and teachers need to value each child with an understanding of that individual’s and his or her family’s lived experiences, culture, language, and other factors impacting the child’s education (Boske & Benavente-McEnery, 2012). It is important to remember that one can accept another individual’s perspective on family without agreeing with that perspective. It is also important to remember that family dynamics change over time in individual families as well as in society as a whole.
