Teaching tolerance in elementary schools is an essential priority. If we begin with very young children who are instinctively more sensitive than adults and who are not reluctant to express their true feelings, then we will be far more successful in our efforts to fight racism and discrimination, than if we delay teaching tolerance until they are "old enough," or worse still, leave it to chance.

"It's OK to be Different" is a program that works toward the goal of teaching tolerance in elementary schools. The first segment of the program was introduced in 1987, with the collaboration of principals, teachers and parents of Navesink School. "Understanding Disabilities," a year-long awareness program presented in the first grade is designed to help parents and teachers promote an understanding of disabilities. We strive to develop an awareness that people with disabilities are no different than others - they just have different problems. Young students are exposed to five different disabilities: Blindness, Hearing Impairments, Physical Disabilities, Learning Disabilities and Mental Retardation. Through hands-on, real-life activities, the children relate to the challenges disabled people encounter and, in the process, establish friendships with the disabled people they meet. The goal is to make both the disabilities and the people who have them very real to the children. The program's essential philosophy is that children can learn that people who appear different because of wheelchairs, seeing eye dogs, hearing aids, learning disabilities or Down Syndrome, are really much like themselves. In their naiveté, the children raise candid questions most adults would be reluctant to ask. In the process the children achieve a better understanding of themselves as well as their own limitations and abilities. Children are more likely to accept others during a process which enhances their own self esteem.

The synergy created by the parents, teachers and students involved convinced us that this approach was an extremely effective tool against prejudice. With this in mind, in 1992 the program expanded into the third grade with its second segment, "It's OK to be Different - Celebrating Cultures," maintaining the essential philosophical force that personal exposure to individual differences in people leads to greater understanding. The third grade program explores ethnic and racial differences that are common within our society. It goes beyond learning about other cultures; it focuses on the issues of stereotyping, discrimination, and prejudice which too frequently accompany interactions in our multi-cultural society. This second segment of the "It's OK to be Different" program addresses the five cultures: Native Americans, Jewish Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans.

We know many schools offer diversity programs to their students, but we believe "It's OK to be Different" is unique because of its range and depth. One week or even one month programs can provide the awareness, but they can only scratch the surface. The benefit of spreading a program over an entire year, with the possible components in succeeding years, is the ability to integrate it into other educational activities and make the teaching of tolerance a natural part of the whole curriculum. It also provides a framework for discussing incidents of prejudice if they occur.

It takes extended effort to build a successful program that will endure over time. "It's okay to be Different" has succeeded for more than twelve years because of collaborative efforts of teachers, parents and the community. We know it can work for you.