Diversity & Multiculturalism at Curtis
At Curtis, we expect our students to become thoughtful, caring world citizens. Our children will graduate into a heterogeneous global community that presents a myriad of cultural perspectives. We believe that appreciating those varied perspectives is an essential part of our mission. Curtis is committed to becoming a leader among independent elementary schools in pursuing diversity within its constituencies and in providing multicultural viewpoints in its programs and daily life.
As a school family, we work, play and learn in one of the world’s most diverse cities. Curtis is actively seeking to develop a school community that more accurately reflects the evolving demographic composition of our country and world. Such an inclusive community would embrace a broad spectrum of factors, including race, ethnic diversity, economic status, and family composition. We acknowledge that our efforts in this area will be demanding and ongoing, but we are confident that all members of our school community – not just our students – will be the long-term beneficiaries.
Multiculturalism
Consistent with the mission of our school, multiculturalism is not regarded as supplemental but as an organic part of our program. We begin in the early grades by discussing tolerance and communal values through exploration of our school motto – "Be Kind, Be Honest, and Respect Self and Others." As understanding evolves in the middle and upper grades, students are led to develop a deeper appreciation of community and an increased awareness of the complexities of family and multicultural living. Classroom themes are reinforced through the arts and drama, varied assemblies and enrichment activities; in the middle and upper grades, writing assignments and various performance opportunities are added to further exploration in these areas.
To practice what we teach, Curtis seeks to host community groups on our campus and become a multicultural
resource for the broader Los Angeles population, embodying our commitment to being an inclusive and respectful
community. Our goal is clearly mandated in the closing words of our mission statement:
