UPIKE learns diversity
0Written By Made Daniels
PIKE’s Diversity in the Classroom course visited a mosque and synagogue in Huntington, W.Va.
Fifteen students participated in the event and were also accompanied by Dr. Michael King, professor of education, and Chaplain Rob Musick.
The purpose of the trip was for students to learn about the religious environments of students they may have in their classrooms. Many of the students had never been in a predominately Islamic or Jewish area. It helped immerse the students in a diverse setting, so they can understand what they may have to accommodate in their classroom.
“There’s all kind of new insights that come when you see new people on their home turf. It’d like coming into someone’s house, and also, both the synagogue and mosque had exceptional hospitality,” Musick said.
Musick also believed that the trip helped break down stereotypes of followers of Islam and Judaism.
For some students, such as Jason Harris, junior, it helped them understand diversity a bit more. Students sat in on services, and some had never done that before. It allowed them to see other people practice different religions, compared to the one they are used to practicing or seeing.
Some students weren’t too sure of what to expect, but they felt welcomed.
“At first, when we first found out we were going there, I had no idea what to expect, but it struck me how it was warming and very welcoming,” Brittany May, junior, said.
Seeing how other religions worship benefits these future teachers. Michael Hopson, junior, believes that this experience helped him understand other religions because they learned some of the rules that Jewish and Muslim followers must abide.