Diversity in the profession

The news this week has focused on racism in sport. Among the solutions proposed (at least on the news programs) has been greater diversification in front office personnel. Having this context, I happen to encounter a couple of articles claiming that the teaching profession is not as diverse as it might be. Just because it seemed strange, the article contained a comment about North Dakota:

"Even in a place like North Dakota, where the students aren't particularly diverse relative to the rest of the country, it's important for our social fabric, for our sense as a nation, that students are engaging with people who think, talk and act differently than them but can also be just as effective at raising student achievement in the classroom," he said.

Hence, diversity is about allowing students to see folks like them and to help students understand there are also folks who are different.