In my view I don't think teaching individualism is mutually-exclusive from teaching tolerance and acceptance of diversity. Sure I think conservatives have led the misconception that these are, but that's not my view. To the contrary my family turned toward diversity despite my own parents being pretty low-educated, rural, religious blue-collar Republicans. Empathy was highly emphasized in my household mostly thanks to my mother and as a result I'm ardent progressive-leftist fighting for everyone's rights. I do agree that at a societal level that we of course benefit from diversity; the "Melting Pot of America" — the huddled masses yearning to breathe free scribed below France's gift, Lady Liberty, is after all a part of our identity.

For my kids I'll get them involved in all sorts of extracurricular activities that will allow them to interact with all backgrounds; but I won't put them in a situation where they feel trapped in an inescapable hell, for some of our schools can be pretty brutal. We plan to get them enrolled into community college a bit earlier, too, allowing them to earn college credits and get used to a classroom environment ahead of university.