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Piedmont students sample a world of differences
Oakland Tribune, Apr 8, 2005 by Laura Casey, STAFF WRITER
PIEDMONT -- Ricardo and Meg Gil sat patiently in front of a class at Piedmont Middle School, answering questions about what they thought of the "Wizard of Oz" and "Snow White."
The Gils, married for 14 years, are both affected by dwarfism. They told students during Piedmont Middle School's third annual Diversity Day that little people like them are misunderstood by the media and the public.
"I would like to change perceptions," Meg Gil said. "I would like to be in a world where I would be out and I was no different whatsoever."
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They were two of two dozen speakers who visited the campus Thursday to talk to students about the diverse lifestyles theylead. A female firefighter spoke of her experience in a male-dominated profession. Members of the Anti-Defamation League spoke about bullying, language and hate.
Principal Carol King said Diversity Day is held to expose students to different cultures and ways of living.
"We do this so kids can see there is not one way to look at things and there is not one way to look at people," she said. "I think they are getting it."
Meg Gil said she sometimes avoids going shopping because she doesn't want to be stared at by other customers. She said she sometimes gets frustrated when she can't reach something or when her body hurts after tending to her garden. But that frustration does not mean she wants to be a different person.
"It doesn't mean I don't want to be little," she said. "It means I get frustrated."
The day began with the Piedmont High School choir singing John Lennon's "Imagine" for the students. A poem created by Piedmont Middle School students was then read aloud. Each line began with "Diversity is ..." and was completed by all the students at the school.
"Diversity is all the people in the world becoming one," a line read.
"Diversity is the destruction of the wall between races," another said.
Eighth-grade student Sydney Forrester said she caught a talk by Steve Toby about gender identity and transgender issues. Toby was born a woman but is now considered male.
"It was cool to see him because I have never met a transgendered person before," Forrester said. "He told us his story, and it was really personal, and I was able to understand."
Parents joined in Diversity Day activities by providing foods from all over the globe -- from egg rolls to pupusas.
The day ended with storyteller Joel Ben Izzy relaying old Jewish folk tales and artist Stephen Kent playing the didjeridu for the students.
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