Embracing Diversity

Trinity students mentor Hartford fifth graders

By Lori Ferguson

Fifth grade is a vulnerable time in any child’s life — the preteen years are just around the corner, and the transition from elementary school to middle school is imminent. When you’re also struggling with issues of culture, identity, and race, the difficulties are compounded. Maybe you’re a Spanish speaker in an English-speaking institution, frustrated in your attempts to comprehend basic classroom instructions. Perhaps you’re from a family that celebrates its heritage, yet you feel alienated because your cultural identity isn’t recognized by your teachers or classmates, or worse, is seen as deficient. Many children in Hartford’s public schools face these challenges and more, says Trinity Associate Professor of Educational Studies Andrea Dyrness.