How Diversity in Education Helps Prepare Your Child for the Future

Inclusivity of a broad range of learning styles is a relatively new concept in some international schools. For many years, the goal of an admissions office was to find qualified students who showed academic promise, and would be good examples of the prowess of the school. But this mindset didn’t account for peers who learn in different ways, cultural, and language differences, or any of the other factors that are just as important as academic ability as predictors for a child’s future success. 

The impact of diversity in the classroom is that by introducing children to a diverse range of peers from a young age, they will have the skills and experience to live and work in our diverse world.

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At ISB, we want your child to feel prepared to interact with anyone they might encounter with ease, be it in school or further down the road in their career.

What do we mean when we discuss diversity in schools?

 Our efforts regarding diversity at ISB are intended to create an environment that mirrors what our students might find outside of school. Our world is vibrant and full of people with different backgrounds, life experiences, habits, passions, beliefs, identities and beyond, and to ignore this might put your child at a disadvantage in a world that is highly social. Learn more about how ISB defines diversity here.

In order for your child to be well prepared for a modern work environment, it is essential that they experience the benefits of diversity throughout their life. Here are three ways your child will experience the benefits of diversity in the classroom well into their future. 

Comfort in new environments and experiences

New experiences can be intimidating, even for adults. Be it culture shock, new languages, or unfamiliar customs, meeting new people later in life can be challenging. 

By experiencing learning in a diverse classroom setting, your child will be well versed and comfortable with the unique attributes of those they meet, be they cultural, social, physical, or beyond. Through repeated exposure to new experiences in a safe and engaging environment, your child will learn the skills they need to thrive in any future work environment.  

One way diversity can be illustrated is through personalized learning. Not all students thrive under the same methods of tutelage, and some students struggle to find academic support when they are in a situation where their needs are not being supported.

When diverse learning needs are addressed, whether it be your child or their peers, the ultimate goal is for all students at ISB to be adaptive and inspirational members of our forward-thinking community, and this can only be achieved by accommodating the needs of all our students.

Another great way to illustrate diversity in the classroom is through teachers and support staff. Representation is a growing concern and not just in education, as many nationalities have been excluded from opportunities throughout history. Representation is an essential component of a truly diverse learning environment, and the teachers and support staff should reflect the diverse nature of the student body. 

When your child sees themselves in a teacher, research has shown that these students enjoy improved confidence and comfort in their learning environment. This is because through representation, your child will see them as a mentor and as someone who inspires them and shows them they can do whatever they set their mind to. 

Helps develop essential skills 

Diversity in the classroom is important because your child will learn critical life skills they will carry with them throughout their lives, but what exactly are these skills?

Academic confidence is one major skill your child will develop from learning in a diverse classroom. By including diversity in the classroom, we are teaching your child how to listen to the perspectives of their peers and to think in a far more critical manner. Children are sponges, absorbing information from all around them, and it’s critical their peers are included in these conversations.

Empathy is another important life skill that a diverse classroom will help your child embody. Children will learn that some of their peers may learn in multiple ways and at different paces, and that accommodating and supporting their learning needs is the right thing to do. 

These skills are not just suggestions; they are mandatory life skills that will help your child. 

Enhances the learning experience

At ISB, we don’t expect our students to be the same, so why would we treat them as such? We embrace and celebrate the richness of our diverse community, and this focus on diversity enhances their learning experience. 

Diversity in the classroom has been attributed to improved cognitive abilities in children because different perspectives lead to engaging conversations and discussions in the classroom. This also often results in increased classroom engagement and further promotes ISB’s dedication to providing a well-rounded academic experience.