Does it Matter Where I’m from? Approaching Multicultural Education
By Grace Jimenez
EDI 600 Psychological Foundation of Education
By Grace Jimenez
EDI 600 Psychological Foundation of Education
School of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
May 28, 2009
We had a cross-culture conversation today in class which I found interesting. We were instructed to seek other students that shared our ethnic/race background. I am considered Hispanic although I see myself as an American since I was born and raised here. When my group got together we realized that we weren’t really educated in our Hispanic culture. We knew basic stereotypes for Hispanic people but not enough to explain our different foods, dances, or history. We learned many new things about the Jewish group, so that was interesting, and they did suffer in school because of the stereotypes of their culture. The Italian group really didn’t share any new information and apparently didn’t have any negative feelings toward their school years. The Irish group and the mixed group had similar experiences to the Italian group.
Then the discussion evolved and it became very personal to me. A student stated that teachers had the obligation to integrate multi-cultural information during class time. She believed a multi-cultural education would ensure all students accept and embrace each other. Obviously that is a very general statement, if a student is exposed to Mexican food and music, do you think it would make the student like or dislike Mexican people? The student would have a preference based on their own experiences, environment or peers - not the knowledge of Mexican culture.
I believe that a teacher’s sole obligation is to treat all students equally. All students share one goal which is to learn as much as possible. As a teacher, better yet as a school system, we need to establish that respect is not only expected but strongly encouraged. Respect each other regardless of skin color, religion, culture, race, and eye or hair color and the world would be a better place. As a teacher I will post a sign that states - “We are all different which makes us unique, but we are all the same because we are all people.”
Cultural education can be incorporated into the curriculum by introducing an international week, a different language/culture every school year, or a class on cultural studies that students elect. Using these suggestions will allow students to enjoy different countries, languages and cultures in a large group without feeling isolated if they’re the sole Hispanic in the classroom. This additional education would ensure students acknowledge that America is not the only country in the world. Maybe that would make the student want to learn more about other countries or cultures they find interesting.
Long Island University, C. W. Post
May 28, 2009
We had a cross-culture conversation today in class which I found interesting. We were instructed to seek other students that shared our ethnic/race background. I am considered Hispanic although I see myself as an American since I was born and raised here. When my group got together we realized that we weren’t really educated in our Hispanic culture. We knew basic stereotypes for Hispanic people but not enough to explain our different foods, dances, or history. We learned many new things about the Jewish group, so that was interesting, and they did suffer in school because of the stereotypes of their culture. The Italian group really didn’t share any new information and apparently didn’t have any negative feelings toward their school years. The Irish group and the mixed group had similar experiences to the Italian group.
Then the discussion evolved and it became very personal to me. A student stated that teachers had the obligation to integrate multi-cultural information during class time. She believed a multi-cultural education would ensure all students accept and embrace each other. Obviously that is a very general statement, if a student is exposed to Mexican food and music, do you think it would make the student like or dislike Mexican people? The student would have a preference based on their own experiences, environment or peers - not the knowledge of Mexican culture.
I believe that a teacher’s sole obligation is to treat all students equally. All students share one goal which is to learn as much as possible. As a teacher, better yet as a school system, we need to establish that respect is not only expected but strongly encouraged. Respect each other regardless of skin color, religion, culture, race, and eye or hair color and the world would be a better place. As a teacher I will post a sign that states - “We are all different which makes us unique, but we are all the same because we are all people.”
Cultural education can be incorporated into the curriculum by introducing an international week, a different language/culture every school year, or a class on cultural studies that students elect. Using these suggestions will allow students to enjoy different countries, languages and cultures in a large group without feeling isolated if they’re the sole Hispanic in the classroom. This additional education would ensure students acknowledge that America is not the only country in the world. Maybe that would make the student want to learn more about other countries or cultures they find interesting.
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