tolerance is approaching the diversity of people and their beings with an equal respect that you have for your own beliefs.

In the classroom we need to teach tolerance because our world is increasingly diverse and we need to work together on everything. It is a basic need to be accepting of one another and see beyond our differences and see eachother as humans first. I think that it is very hard to teach tolerance other than setting an example. If someone is exhibiting intolerance, it needs to be approached in a way that does not isolate them as being an offender. Intolerance surfaces as many very common behaviors that are overlooked or taken lightly. Ex. people might lightly use the word "gay" as a description of somehting in a comical or negative manner. In my experience, these things are often overlooked or taken lightly.
It is our job as teachers to approach it in away that does not scold the individual but pose a question or a scenario that will eventually make him think twice about what he is saying.
In my classroom, I will have an intolerance or intolerance policy. If someone is being intolerant they will have to write a paper about that which they are being intolerant of.
Intolerance is offset by understanding.
(A+ from Kimo)