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Tolerance, Diversity, and American Democracy
Lessons for Day 1 of National Youth Violence Prevention Week

Emblazoned on the Great Seal of the United States of America is the motto E Pluribus Unum , “out of many, one.” This phrase originally referred to the union of the thirteen states, but it also expresses two fundamental characteristics about America: that the United States is composed of persons of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and ways of life; and that this diversity is a fundamental aspect of our life as a democratic society.

About These Lessons
Learning how to talk with people from diverse backgrounds and how to listen and engage with those who hold different points of view is an essential skill of every American. The Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago has brought together lessons for the elementary, middle, and high school classroom that focus on these broad themes relating to tolerance and diversity in our democracy:

Balancing Diversity and Equality. How do we honor people's differences while trying to treat them fairly and equally?
Protecting Diverse Ideas, Beliefs, and Practices. What do we do with ideas or practices that are different from our own?
Intolerance and Diversity. How have we dealt with intolerance and diversity in the past? How will we promote tolerance and diversity today?
Resources on Diversity and Tolerance
Other Relevant CRFC Resources for Violence Prevention
About the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago

A fundamental task of American elementary and secondary schools is educating students for life in a democratic society. Since 1974, the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago has helped schools foster critical thinking skills and responsible civic action in students. Non-profit and non-partisan, CRFC helps young people from diverse backgrounds understand and constructively participate in our representative democracy. CRFC serves students and teachers through initiatives in Chicago, throughout Illinois, and across the United States. CRFC sponsors democracy education partnerships between classes in Illinois and other parts of the world.