Even the Janitor Is White addresses challenges faced by teacher educators who are committed to
diversity education. The chapters in this volume invite readers to reflect on their own
practice as teacher educators as well as consider ways in which that practice might be
improved. More than forty percent of students in U.S. schools are of non-White ethnicity yet
the majority of teachers are White and middle class. Some teacher education students are
resistant to conversations about race or ethnicity in the college classroom while teacher
educators may avoid initiating dialogues about race or ethnicity. U.S. teacher education
programs however are charged with preparing culturally competent teachers. Educational
experts agree teacher educators must direct special attention toward consciousness-raising
activities and instructional strategies to increase White educators' awareness of diverse
populations challenge stereotypes and facilitate interactions between and among ethnic
groups. Teacher education programs pre-service teachers and others interested in issues of
diversity will benefit from this collection of classroom-tested strategies for increasing
educators' awareness about diversity.
