Eighteenth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

The city of Toronto, Canada has been declared by BBC Radio in May of 2016 as the most diverse city in the world. With such a large multi-ethnic makeup, it is not surprising that Toronto is also home to 140 different languages and multiple religious affiliations. Toronto was also rated third in the world’s most LGBT-friendly cities’ ranking. The Greater Toronto Area makes up almost half of Ontario’s fourteen million people, hence, Ontario’s Ministry of Education has officially recognized diversity in their 2009 publication, “Realizing the Promise of Diversity: Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy.” As an elementary teacher educator, I have taught a variety of subject areas, including Curriculum Methods, Social Studies, and Music Education. During this time, I have openly promoted the teaching of diversity across all subjects. As a teaching tool, however, I have found that the teaching of diversity through music has been the most powerful and effective pedagogical method. My paper, therefore, is rooted in my ten years of experience as an elementary teacher educator in the GTA. Specifically, my paper addresses the following three questions: How can we effectively teach diversity in the elementary music education classroom?; How can music be used as a tool to teach diversity across all subjects?; How can music be used as a device to bring together diverse communities? This paper provides elementary practitioners and administrators with practical knowledge and skills in the arena of diversity pedagogy.