Students at Darnell-Cookman Middle/High School of the Medical Arts who enroll in teacher Angela TenBroeck's classes not only study various medical terms and procedures, they also learn how medicine crosses all cultural boundaries and relates to diversity.
Every year, TenBroeck teaches a program she developed called "Diversity Fridays." These days are built around the practice of medicine and how it relates to the treatment of others.
"If we have a bullying or name calling issue, as a class we discuss what those names mean, and then we make a truce to abide by group developed rules for conversations," said TenBroeck. "Then each student tells his/her story and we look for common things or situations that help us understand each other better."
Throughout the year, topics addressed surround questions like "What do those of a certain religion wish their non-religion medical professionals know?" Further questions on this topic have included those such as "Do they have certain diet?", "Are their procedures that they wish to not have performed on them?", "How do they feel about tissue donation?" and "What is their death ritual?"
TenBroeck also incorporates other programs into her lessons, including "Teaching Tolerance" and the "Don't Laugh at Me" program.
The culminating event for students at the end of their eighth-grade year is a field trip to places they may have discussed during their studies.
This year, students visited a Jewish Synagogue, a Buddhist Temple and had lunch at an Indian restaurant.
According to TenBroeck, "the day not only enlightens the students, but also offers them a change of pace."
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