Culturally Relevant Teaching

                                                                      Scholarly Woman
                                            Culturally Relevant Teaching
By Elizabeth Joy Cox

            Efforts to usefully model the dynamics of human communities date back to the work of philosophers in ancient times. Complexities of a modern world inhabited by 7.6 billion people make the challenge to model equitable interactions between individuals and groups truly mind-boggling, especially when cultures are in constant flux. Cultural identity serves to anchor groups via shared symbols, language, values, social norms; cultural identity is part of the glue of civilization.

In my opinion, the best way to address and coalesce complex systems of communities is to create social hubs based on commonalities that may or may not hinge on ethnic or cultural factors. Social networks have made this process practical via the Internet in recent decades. I believe we’re on the right track, as a civilization, to create global cultural pluralism.

In the classroom, educators can support an inclusionary environment when values related to a variety of ethnic and cultural identities are recognized and respected. This requires establishment of clear interactive parameters. Such group parameters cannot completely capture microaggressions in the net of neutrality – but at least, with the instructor’s balanced oversight, the classroom can be a portal through which students emerge as more culturally astute and tolerant social citizens of the world.

            The text “Comprehensive Multicultural Education” by Christine Bennett explores how Gloria Ladson-Billings has been a leader in culturally relevant teaching research. She has formulated principles that serve as a framework for culturally relevant teaching. Karen Manheim Teel and Geneva Gay have also helped define characteristics of teachers who are highly culturally competent. Many teachers serve as models of the skillful application of principles that foster cultural pluralism in the classroom (Bennett, 2014). Perhaps their experiences will be shared widely through conferences, online videos, and documentaries. We have the technology.

                                              References

Bennett, C. I. (2014). Comprehensive multicultural education: Theory and practice (8th

        ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.