A troubling incident occurred a few years ago in my Literature and Writing Foundations class at the local high school, highlighting the need for a focus on diversity. One of my tenth-grade students suddenly stood up, walked to the back of the room, mumbled something to his classmate, a newcomer from India, and pulled off his turban. This student, a devout Sikh, was humiliated when his hair was uncovered. He immediately ran out of the room – his long black hair exposed and flowing. When he returned with his turban in place, I directed both boys to join me in the hallway.
