four years when quillin started kindergarten much-loved -respected elementary school neighborhood very happy about ethnic classroom teacher half dozen students were african american another eight children were spanish-speaking latinos rest were caucasian asian european quillin's favorite friends right from start were iulianna tarista vanessa cano whose families were from muldova mexico quillin's days were filled with interactions with shamarios reynaldos blancas maliks parent thrilled learning about sameness difference perhaps most valuable lesson child could learn elementary school particularly when those lessons involve people just geometric shapes missed many these experiences growing percent white small town luckily raised without understanding prejudice didn't have many chances witness even tempted fall into that trap i've always wanted different experience girls another reason particularly anxious girls have these experiences with different ethnicities cultures perhaps somewhat silly superficial they're very very blond blue-eyed worry about stereotypes superiority complexes that often along with that culture this college town cringe when whole sororities girls walking around campus with matching shirts matching blond hair could blond hair requirement thought makes shudder can't exactly daughters hair dark want them feel loved exactly they anyway encourage accepting open-minded attitudes enthusiastically american girl dolls their choice since they chose josephina mexican doll kaya american indian when quillin started first grade found school decided spanish-speaking children their classrooms apparently studies have shown these children have more success learning english maintaining their bilingual status this type program could think that school modeling segregation children sure enough quillin children played with loved kindergarten became distanced eventually like strangers spanish-speaking kids stuck together playground lunchroom speaking only spanish unless adult spoke them english this arrangement even rippled families longer reasons interact choir concerts school meetings parents mostly stuck close their three years passed like this then suddenly start this school year there shake quillin's third grade class from last year spanish-speaking third graders were integrated divided into separate classes fourth grade nearly every first weeks school asked quillin kids were getting along played with recess talked about which kids from kindergarten class were with again then pulled some photos from that time talked about them tuesday evening walked down school parent meeting with quillin's teacher principal when walked into room parents were sitting kids chairs kids tables those whose kids been class together last years together which naturally meant there were groupings white adults groupings latinos wore name tags there were introductions organized teacher informally between parents instead teacher began talking about math curriculum computer told about changes field trip permission form policy volunteer screening policy apparently have fingerprinted before even help librarian shelve books parents asked thinly veiled questions about teacher going make sure quick smart kids weren't held back which seemed pretty clearly point that spanish-speaking children might have difficult time keeping which kids would pace parent teacher principal spoke directly about this significant change classroom community talked about change made what being done facilitate could only imagine explanations either people don't think that integrating these groups kids that deal whole thing being carefully stepped around like elephant room either take issue exactly opposite what want modeled children really excited that spanish-speaking kids integrated back into regular classroom said what being done intentionally help them foster community with each other there intentional plan told would just happen time time thought time just easily work solidify negative patterns habits just look what happens many marriages over time when there's sense vision deliberate there felt helpless threw food problem often maybe families could have potluck together suggested would willing help organize that then surprisingly sophie's ventured limb humility humor asked teacher could definitions math terms being used curriculum could actually help kids with their math homework maybe it's just said don't always know what these problems even mean like last night's assignment asked that crazy couldn't figure what were supposed everyone began speaking laughing agreeing vanessa's flor nudged husband victor smiling raising eyebrows here were bunch spanish- english-speaking adults struggling figure some silly fourth grade math problems suddenly could picture each these parents night before imagined them each their homes with their children maybe they were sitting kitchen table where good smells dinner still lingered while another parent dishes made lunches dusk deepening outside they glow light with their child trying their minds around homework assignment that moment finally sameness overshadowing difference realized these exactly kind moments hope children having each somos iguales diferentes same different 