FOR DISCUSSION: Challenges of discussing culture and racism
Read the following class comment and respond to at least one of the questions that follow.
Your response will go in the threaded comments section.
Following each class, you will be given multiple prompts to respond to each week.
The comment(s):
Teaching can be slightly less challenging if the students know that things like racism and different cultures are dealt with everywhere. Real world issues can be brought into the classroom to help facilitate these transitions. Diversity should be encouraged and never over-looked. It would be helpful for students to know and understand their own culture as well as understand and be accepting of the cultures of other students.
The question(s):
1. What is racism? Why is it important for students to know that things like racism are 'dealt' with 'everywhere'? (In terms of this question, please define 'dealt' and 'everywhere').
2. Why is it necessary to talk about different cultures in the classroom? How do you approach different cultures in your classroom?
3. The use of authentic materials (relevant conversations, news, artifacts, and other semiotic elements) can facilitate discussing race and culture. What will the teacher accomplish with the incorporation of these materials?
4. Define diversity. According to you, why should it not be overlooked in a classroom?
5. Define culture.
6. How do/can students understand their culture? What do they gain in doing so? What do they gain in knowing about the culture of others?
For me, culture is an integral part of my identity. During my childhood, my grandmother would tell me stories of my Russian ancestors. I learned about the world my great grandparents lived in: the time of the Russian Revolution. I cherish those stories and rich history of those who came before me. With respect to other people, not everyone is told about their culture and their ancestral past. It's saddening, really. I was reading a thread on a CNN post the other day about the controversial Redskins sports team and how Native Americans want it changed because it's offensive. I was surprised and disgusted by the amount of people who posted the argument that it the term Redskin is not offensive, people are too sensitive, the team's name actually honors Native Americans, and it's been around for a long time, why change it now. What's tragic about this is that the majority of people do not know that Redskins was a racial slur used against Native Americans that is comparable to using the n-word for African Americans. This current ideology that accepts the racial slur, Redskin, is a perfect example as to how our education system is failing with regard to history lessons, knowledge and acceptance of culture identity, and tolerance. In order to mend this slanted perspective, teachers need to address racism within the classroom through discussions and readings. Glossing over what Columbus, Cortes and other explorers did to the Native Americans is exactly how we "deal" with Native Americans now: we push their problems to the side and ignore them in hopes they'll go away. The fact that we even have a holiday to celebrate Columbus, the man responsible for the transatlantic slave trade is completely horrific. People need to know and understand our history is a bloody one and although we are in the year 2013, we still have racism and inequalities, and "getting over it" is not an option. Okay, I'm done ranting.
ReplyDelete5. Diversity is important for teachers to be aware because all students come from different backgrounds and hold different background knowledge. It may be easy for a teacher to appeal to prior knowledge on students who share similar backgrounds but others may need more work to spark their knowledge. Diversity means that we are all different.
ReplyDelete4. Diversity, to me is having charactertics and traits that makes you different from everybody else. It should not be overlooked in the classroom because it is important to know that everybody is different. We learn and are exposed to different things, and thus may have different prior knowledge. This means students may be at different levels of learning.
ReplyDelete4. Diversity is a state of variety in many different forms. Diversity is what separates individuals from one another and gives us our own identity. It shouldn't be overlooked in a classroom because learning about each student and the diversity within a classroom will help create the community atmosphere in the class and also be a helpful tool in teaching. Accepting each student's diversity is also an act of respecting their differences and respect can go a long way in a classroom. Becoming familiar with a classroom's diversity is also a way to get familiar with their background knowledge and how each student has different background knowledge. Accepting diversity is accepting your students for who they individually are.
ReplyDelete2. It is important for you to talk about different cultures because this allows your students to see things from a different perspective. In your classroom you wil have a diverse group of students, this group will change every class period. If the students have a better understanding of different cultures then they may be able to understand why some people are the way they are. It opens their eyes to different ways of doing the same thing. Mannerisms, body language, all of it is important. It gives the room you are in a sense of acceptance.
ReplyDeleteA few ways to approach different cultures in the classroom are to give a compare and contrast of how the "mainstream American cultures" view something to the perspective of someone from another country. This allos the students to see the vast difference and can maybe help them view that particular idea differently.
When I think of culture, I immediately think of grandparents. They are usually our closest connection to our past and who we are culturally. Having a tie to your culture gives you a sense of belonging, and at the same time, answers as to why we are who we are. If students can be encouraged to appreciate their own culture as well as the culture of others, then many great sharing experiences can occur. The knowledge of culture will ensure that it is not forgotten.
ReplyDeleteDiversity is what makes everyone different. we are all different therefore we are diverse. From a cultural aspect to a physical aspect. It cannot be overlooked considering the diversity of Texan classrooms alone.
ReplyDelete5. Define Culture
ReplyDeleteCulture: the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group.
I love that this definition spans across traditional "culture" views. I like that it adds "other social group" because I feel like we are becoming broad in what we define as a culture.
Diversity is having a group of individuals from all backgrounds and different walks of life. Have a diverse classroom is a great opportunity for all to learn from the different perspectives we all have. If there wasn't any diversity than we would all think and act the same way and never learn from others' achievements or failures.
ReplyDeleteDiversity is what brings people together as a whole. Respecting other peoples cultures,ethnicity, and sexual orientation, can be the answer to answer to all the negativity,hate, and ignorance of people who are not educated and/or have been taught from their family of origin to hate others who are different. We need to live in a world of peace. I leave you with some lyrics by U2 that poetically display respect and love for one another.
ReplyDelete"One love, one blood
One life, you got to do what you should
One life, with each other
Sisters, brothers
One life but we're not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One"-U2
Teachers can are able to offer concrete examples of somewhat abstract concepts when using authentic materials to introduce and discuss race or culture in the classroom. Teachers can use these materials to help students to think critically about the ways race and culture are represented within the context of their own culture or in the culture of other cities, states, countries ect.
ReplyDeleteDiversity deffinetly should not be over looked in the class room because diversity is everywhere. You can not escape it. Even if everyone around you seems the same there are differences doesnt matter how slight or big they are. Bringing it into the light in your classroom with show students that everyone deals with it and diversity is good!
ReplyDeleteWhy is it necessary to talk about different cultures in the classroom? How do you approach different cultures in your classroom?
ReplyDelete#2
Diversity is a fact in American classrooms today; there are members of numerous cultural groups throughout classrooms and therefore, teachers must be aware and conscientious. In chapter one of the text, Secondary Teaching Today, Kellough and Kellough discuss the importance of acknowledging eclectic cultures present in the classroom. It is necessary to talk about different cultures so that students from each different culture feel welcome and supported in the learning environment. Also, by discussing varying cultures, a wealth of knowledge can be gained, which is beneficial for the students as well as the teacher.
Regarding the teaching approach, it is important to recognize different cultures because students from different cultures respond differently to teaching methods and approaches. Personally, I look forward to the rich learning opportunities that come from a diverse classroom. I will approach the different cultures present in my classroom with open arms, excited to build upon the backgrounds, experiences, and motivations of each student.
#3
ReplyDeleteThe use of authentic materials can extremely beneficial for students as well as the teacher. When the teacher incorporates relevant news, conversations, and other semiotic elements, it allows the teacher to go further than the mundane texts and challenge himself or herself to stay current and involved. For students, the use of authentic materials takes learning beyond the classroom and provides them with knowledge in what is going on in the world around them.
#2
ReplyDeleteIt is necessary to discuss different cultures in the classroom to affirm the importance of every culture that is both represented and not represented in the classroom. When the lessons in a class only focus on one culture, the other cultures not discussed are marginalized and seem less important. By celebrating all cultures within a class the teacher is showing that diversity and tolerance are of a primary importance.
It is a necessity to discuss the cultures of your students. If you do not then you run the risk of your students feeling like they have been overlooked and ignored. You want to embrace your students diversity and want to take the knowledge they have to give you to improve your teaching. You also would want to discuss the different cultures in your classroom because it shows your students that every culture is important and hold value. This also helps to reduce the white privilege that may be occurring in your classroom that you are not aware of.
ReplyDelete