We live in a society where schools are not only touted to be sites of learning and innovation, but also safe spaces. On most days, the average parent or guardian sends their child to school giving no second thought to whether s/he will be cared for, listened to or embraced by adult and youth members of the school community. In a country that prides itself on the rich diversity of its people, one should be able to assume that schools are places where diverse identities are welcomed and affirmed.
In the last two years, the number of students of color in U.S. public schools has outnumbered white students, with the largest increase being among Hispanic students. 1 Additionally, the Center for Immigration Studies reports that roughly 23 percent of all public school students come from immigrant households, with the largest percentage increases in immigration from largely Muslim nations (e.g., Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Iraq).2 Schools ought to cultivate environments where the ideology of America as a nation that values pluralism and cultural diversity is an enacted practice. However, we know that realizing this ideal has been problematic for some time.