T he following checklist for engaged pedagogy is designed to encourage teachers to create more liberating classroom environments and to think about what it means to educate a diverse student body.

Discourage:

• Qualifiers which reinforce racial stereotypes
• Assuming that all members of racial groups are the same, or even similar
• Ethnic clichés
• Racist/ethno-centrist jokes
• Patronizing behaviour or tokenism by race
• Expecting that students of non-European ancestry will respond for their entire ethno-racial group
• The avoidance of eye contact with students of non-European ancestry
• Relating a students' academic difficulties with her/his ethno-racial background
• Using a "colour-code" to describe or interpret the actions of students

Encourage:

• An acknowledgement of the presence of racial diversity in your classroom
• Taking responsibility for managing/monitoring ethnic and racial interactions
• Establishing ground rules for mutual respect in the classroom
• Choosing language and usage that do not reinforce bias
• Giving equal respect to all races and presenting a balanced representation in visual aids and other media
• Choosing texts and print media that avoid racial discrimination and stereotyping
• Expanding your horizon by including contributions from non-traditional scholars
• Acknowledging and respecting all of your students' accents
• Being patient with students whose first language is not English or French
• Encouraging students to relate their learning to their personal experience

Reprinted with the author's permission from: Voices from the Classroom: Reflections on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Toronto: Garamond Press, 2001).