¶ … Treat Students Right by Valuing Their Diversity, Meuleners (2001) talks about the value of diversity, the stages people go through in dealing with diversity, and the restraints in accepting diversity. People are different from each other, but when they work together, they conquer greater feats than when each works alone. Dealing with diversity progresses from recognition (awareness of the difference of self vs. other), to tolerance (accepting diversity but not welcoming it), and finally to celebration (embracing diversity and acknowledging that it adds value to life). Though, the journey to celebration of diversity is hindered by insufficient knowledge and reluctance to modify one's own schema, which results to vicious stereotypes indefinitely perpetuated.

A closer look would take one to the realization that diversity is advantageous and so should be welcomed, more so, encouraged. Diversity must be a function of each person having a different function to fill. A specialization of one person might be the handicap of another, and only by helping each other do they accomplish a greater task. Also, if all were the same in thinking, faults in norms would go unquestioned. Diversity brings beauty, creativity, fresh ideas, and ultimately growth. Suppressing diversity means limiting growth. Diversity, if responded appropriately, could be turned into growth; if responded to negatively, can be the reason for the person to put off the spark of difference and make her or him just another face in the crowd. Personal biases, prejudices, and stereotypes act as blinders in seeing the beauty of the diversity landscape. This can be countered by actively seeking information. Be patient with ideas even if it seems incompatible with one's own. By integrating new information to the schema, one goes beyond the comfort zone, moves beyond the fears on uncertainty, and begins to look at diversity in a positive light.