Do you think that schools and workplaces should enforce sensitivity training -- when it comes to better tolerating students/co-workers who're 'minorities?'

Chris wrote:

Do you think that schools and workplaces should enforce sensitivity training -- when it comes to better tolerating students/co-workers who're 'minorities?'

No. Just put in the employee and student handbook that harassment is against the rules and enforce them. There doesn't need to be classes for common sense.

Even if the concept is well meaning, I feel the process is patronizing. Managers, supervisors, school counselors should be prepared to counsel on a case by case basis, when the situation calls for it.

You know...it may help at times...but mostly probably just a waste.

I think it's usually just a waste of time. Where I work, people are pretty accepting - ethnicit and culture is something to be celebrated and shared. Most of the kids are pretty accepting of differences, too, though some groups have a harder time, but that goes back to what the parents are teaching them.

Yes! But not for the reason you may already assume.

We've had those classes where I work many times. And I doubt that they're effective. But it covers the asses of the employers. Issue the handbooks, but enforce the classes so that the non-readers don't get off the hook.

I constantly tell people that HR is NOT there for the employee; they're there for the employer, and anything they do for the employees is to cover their own asses.

Marc™ wrote:

No. Just put in the employee and student handbook that harassment is against the rules and enforce them. There doesn't need to be classes for common sense.

We had such training, brot in some org that taught acceptance of homosexuals. Some of our more intractable fundy co-workers let it be known in that open forum just how much they could not tolerate gays.

Best to give an absolute in the non-discrimination policy and get rid of those who violate it.

I agree with Bluesmamma. For the most part it's a defense against a harassment law suit.