ABSTRACT
In this book we have examined different dimensions of diversity, but our students do not fit neatly into one social category or group. Considering the intersectionality of multiple social identities focuses attention on the overlapping and conflicting dynamics of race, gender, class, and other social identities in the context of power and structures of inequality. With all these concerns in mind, we must strive to provide a safe haven in schools with a climate which allows personal growth, academic achievement, and intellectual development, where middle-level students know they can develop close, caring, and trusting relationships with teachers, parents, peers, and their communities. We must avoid generalizing, oversimplifying, or making assumptions about the lived experiences of our students. Every student is unique. Middle-level students are changing at a rapid rate in all areas—physical, intellectual, emotional, and social. They are experimenting with all types of venues, sexuality, drugs, and relationships. If adults do not provide the cushion young adults need, they will surely be at risk of slipping through the cracks. Teachers must somehow reach students from all kinds of backgrounds and knit together a cohesive community of learners in an atmosphere of caring and mutual respect.
