It's Out! Moral Courage ED Launches Online Course for Schools to Teach "Diversity Without Division"

Education leaders can now choose a pro-unity, no-shaming pedagogy to address racism and other forms of discrimination. Moral Courage ED is launching “Diversity Without Division: Introducing Educators to the Moral Courage Method.” The online, self-paced course teaches high school educators an innovative framework that transcends the Us-against-Them culture wars.

“The Moral Courage Method is a powerful strategy for reconciliation in polarized times. It opens hearts in order to open minds,” says Dr. Rajni Shankar-Brown, endowed chair of social justice education at Stetson University.

Led by the bestselling author and Oprah award-winner Irshad Manji, the Moral Courage Method is a research-backed, road-tested approach to turning contentious issues into constructive conversations. 

“Never before have I seen free speech and social justice so seamlessly brought together,” says Mike Yates, senior managing director at Teach for America’s Reinvention Lab. “‘Diversity Without Division’ shows that to be innovative, we have to be inclusive not only of different people but also of divergent views. After all, innovation happens through a diversity of perspectives and the skills to discuss them with empathy.” 

The course stars high school students who experience “Aha!” moments as they navigate controversial issues of identity through the Moral Courage Method. Unlike mainstream anti-racism efforts, the Moral Courage Method:

• Builds trust by starting with what we share before exploring how we differ.
• Illustrates the science of fear and the role that our brains play in making us feel defensive.
• Defines diversity to include different viewpoints because understanding others is crucial to be being understood.
• Reveals that power is situational, not static, so any of us can have it in a given context.

Upon completing “Diversity Without Division,” educators become eligible to train as Moral Courage Mentors. Oxford University’s Initiative for Global Ethics and Human Rights, an academic partner of Moral Courage ED, will certify mentors starting in fall 2022. 

“Our intention,” Manji explains, “is to build a global community of Moral Courage Mentors who help young people resist the seductive either/or mindset. When we teach with a both/and lens, we liberate the possibilities for truly inclusive change. That’s education at its best.”

Preview “Diversity Without Division” in action. To learn more about the course and other Moral Courage ED offerings, visit moralcourage-ed.org/offerings.

About Moral Courage ED

Moral Courage ED empowers students to hear, not fear, different perspectives. By providing the tools to communicate across lines of difference and disagreement, the Moral Courage Method achieves diversity without division. Moral Courage ED is led by Irshad Manji, winner of Oprah’s inaugural “Chutzpah Award” for boldness and The New York Times bestselling author, most recently, of Don’t Label Me: How to Do Diversity Without Inflaming the Culture Wars. Manji teaches with Oxford University’s Initiative for Global Ethics and Human Rights. Moral Courage ED is presented by Let Grow, the national nonprofit that promotes independent thinking and emotional resilience in young people. Discover more at moralcourage-ed.org.  

About Let Grow

Let Grow is the national nonprofit that promotes independent thinking and emotional   resilience in young people. Founded by Free-Range Kids pioneer Lenore Skenazy, research psychologist Dr. Peter Gray, former chairman of the Foundation for Individual Rights in  Education Daniel Shuchman, and NYU Prof. Jonathan Haidt, co-author of The Coddling of the American Mind, Let Grow innovates programs for elementary as well as secondary school students. In the Pre-K-8 space, Let Grow provides two free, easy-to-implement offerings for schools: The Let Grow Project and Let Grow Play Club. These initiatives get students doing, exploring, and playing more on their own. As a result, they organically develop social-  emotional skills including empathy, problem-solving, creativity and confidence. For middle and high schools, Let Grow also presents Moral Courage ED, which empowers students to hear, not fear different perspectives. Let Grow has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, PBS and more. To learn more about Let Grow, visit letgrow.org.