Our text (Ornstein) discusses the issue of cultural
demographics and how the nature of race is changing. As our nation changes into a more diverse
population many cultural aspects must be taken into account. It is the American
way to take full credit for all that one has achieved. Our text discusses how
Native Americans, Hispanics and Asians tend to downplay their individual
achievement, stating that theirs is a family achievement.
As children most of us were taught to treat everyone the
same and that discussing or pointing out the differences of others was
“impolite.” Should we do this as
teachers? Should we be colorblind, or as
our text suggests, go so far as to make a list of student success in any ethnic
group? How do cultural demographics come into play in your classroom? Should we
“celebrate” differences or politely leave the subject alone?
When Halle Berry won the Best Actress Oscar in 2002, for her stellar performance in Monster’s Ball, I was elated. My joy and since of pride for Halle was twofold. I was proud of her performance and felt she won the Oscar based on the merit and integrity of her work. On the other hand I cried tears of joy knowing that Halle had made history as the first African-American woman ever awarded such a prestigious honor. Since then I recall experiencing that same joy several times…once when Gabby Douglas won the Gold Medal at the 2012 Olympics. And twice when President, Barak Obama was elected in 2009 and then re-elected in 2012. All of these events were significant to me because they were reassuring signs of the American playing field leveling. When Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor was sworn in again my heart was glad. While all of these world changers achieved success based upon their own hard work and dedication they have come to serve as beacons of hope to those who identify with them and dream of becoming more than their socio-economic circumstances could ever allow.
ReplyDeleteI think it is impossible to be colorblind in 21st century America. So much of who we are individually is entangled in our ethnicity, cultural beliefs and cultural identity. I think the cultural uniqueness of all students should be celebrated. Failure to recognize and respect the cultural differences of students is in essence failing to recognize and respect the students themselves. I think America is mature enough to understand that most people who sojourn from other countries to America do so primarily for opportunity’s sake. I don’t think people should have to lose their cultural identity to gain a chance at having a better life for themselves and their families.
Educators must be sensitive to the ever changing cultural diaspora that makes up the population which we serve. Educating ourselves is one of the best ways to render service that meets the needs of the whole child. Understanding the cultural norms of students will shed light on behavioral norms and provide insight into the sub-cultures that make up America. Cultural demographics in America are rapidly changing. As a result we must change or be unable to serve the children we are charged to teach.
Jenn, thank you for this question… I enjoyed this one.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rachel when she stated that “So much of who we are individually is entangled in our ethnicity, cultural beliefs and cultural identity.” I grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, a racially and ethnically diverse setting. My friends and my teachers came from many different cultural backgrounds. Often times, people have good intentions when they say that we should be “colorblind” in America, however, I don’t think that is truly possible, and nor does it need to be. When fairness is concerned, yes, we need to be colorblind; however, the true beauty of our existence is in learning about each other and how our differences give us identity. As a child, I saw myself as part of a “melting pot” (for lack of a better term…) I identified with the diverse community that I grew up in. My friends and I learned to understand our cultural differences and we took pride in being able to identify with them. The Ornstein text offers tips that can help teachers with the diversity that is present in their classrooms. There is true value in being able to learn about the behaviors of your students in relation to their ethnic backgrounds and values. Although I grew up in a culturally diverse atmosphere, there is so much more for me to learn. I now teach in the very same diverse high school I attended so many years ago, and although the demographics have changed somewhat, I still identify with the diverse community of my youth. I see myself in the faces of my students. When my students learn that I grew up in the same community that they come from, they are confused at first. They see the “white girl who is probably from the suburbs.” After they get past that, they are open to discussing their cultural traditions, perspectives and behaviors in class. We spend many class discussions contemplating how different a story would be if the character were of a different cultural background. Sometimes I laugh for days about these discussions; they can be so utterly hysterical. In this way, we identity, celebrate, and laugh about the things that make us different and interesting. Part of a real “education” is to be able to “place yourself” in the world. We need to be able to see the world from other perspectives and in order to do that, we must not shy away from our differences.
I am a true product of my environment, and I am so grateful.
I feel that this is an important to recognize the demographics in all schools. I feel that it is very important for students to learn about different cultures and their backgrounds. In my classroom I have a variety of students from different backgrounds and ethnic groups. In Social Studies and Religion we talk about our different backgrounds and heritages. I like the students in my classroom to feel comfortable to talk about their heritage and background. I feel that is is very important for the students to know about one another's background. For example in my classroom the students who are not Catholic still have to go to church and learn the prayers that we are learning. I also ask those children who are non-Catholic to share and talk about their religious beliefs with the other students.
DeleteWhen my class does The May Crowning all the students still participate whether they are Catholic or not.
I think that we should honor and respect everyones differences. Like I always tell my students each and everyone of us is made and created to the likeness of God's creation and The Golden Rule due onto others as you would want do to you. Example one of my students from last year is missing two fingers just because, of that doe snot mean that she is not like everyone else. I think it is important to address differences. We are all children of God.
I think that it is important to show and teach students about the accomplishments that great people have made to our world and society. For example, Rosa Parks giving up her seat on a bus and what Martin Luther King Junior did and that he had a dream. Every year I do a unit on Famous Americans and teach my students about the great things that these people have done.
I think we need to adapt to each student. Some students may like the praise and it may motivate them to do better or to continue to do well whereas some may take offense to being "individualized" in front of other students. We definitely need to take cultural and demographic differences into account. Just like we differentiate instructions, we need to differentiate how we reward our students.
DeleteIn the classroom, coming from a diverse district do believe we need to take into consideration the demographics and cultures of all students. In my class I do a unit on families and their backgrounds this way I get to know more about them and their culture. It is very interesting to see the differences and similarities between all the students. More and more our country is becoming diverse and in the classroom we need to address this not just for the learning aspect of it but the comfortable feeling of the individuals themselves.
ReplyDeleteHaving grown up in an ethnically diverse city in central Connecticut, I find myself in a peculiarly homogenous environment in Hunterdon County. The assumptions of my students are based (as are the assumptions of most teens, and most people) on their own limited experiences. I find myself walking a delicate line - I feel compelled to open the minds of my students by exposing them to varied cultural perspectives, but I need to do so without embarrassing the few kids who are not of European descent (remembering that for the most part, middle schoolers don't like to be perceived as different from their peers). My avenue for doing this is through literature - I'm currently developing an historical fiction unit that examines US history from a variety of viewpoints and at a variety of times. I do want students to understand and empathize with what is common to all people - but not to ignore the rich variety of human cultures. This tension goes beyond our classroom walls to our country, which is undergoing another historical change in relation to its complexion (both literal and metaphorical). In the second half of the 19th century, Europeans from many countries disrupted the WASP status quo; now, in the early 21st century, the European-American status quo is being replaced. Finding the balance between common and individual identity has been the work of our country from the start - whether it relates to democratic rights in legal or social terms. I have faith that we will do it - and that we can help it happen in our classrooms - but I anticipate a long, messy process, full of false starts and restarts.
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