Diversity continues to be an important theme at Marin Primary &Middle School. It is our responsibility to guide our children's hearts and intentions toward open- mindedness and generosity. Compassion, tolerance and appreciation for the myriad of human differences make our lives more peaceful, productive and rewarding.

Through the Diversity Speaker Series, sponsored by the Fair Housing of Marin, we continue to keep diversity at the forefront of our students' minds. The "Rules To Live By" are reinforced through storytelling and speakers who share their personal stories.

On April 7, Kirk Waller, Master Storyteller, came to perform stories about tolerance and diversity for first through fourth graders. Waller has been involved in theater, mime, drama, public speaking and storytelling for over 20 years. He has won national recognition for his performances. This special program was funded through a grant by the Marin Arts Council and coordinated by Fair Housing of Marin.

"The kids remember the message of the story," said Waller. "They can take the message and make it real. The stories emphasize respect and learning how to accept people who are different from them."

Each performance was followed with questions, posed to the students to help them to explore issues of inequality, respect and sensitivity.

Adriana Ames, Education Director of Fair Housing of Marin, hopes that the students will learn about different perspectives.

"We want to bring speakers who will teach respect for people who are different from them through stories," said Ames.

A student from Betsy Richardson's second grade class commented that Waller's story helped him understand all different kinds of people. He compared houses to people. Even though houses may look different on the outside, they are the same on the inside - they all have kitchens and bathrooms.

For this student, he learned the "outside of a person doesn't matter, it is what is inside."