Multicultural Issues

The first group to present their lesson talked about race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. Kayla focused on including and incorporating learning about different cultures everyday not just on a specific day or unit. Multicultural day or black history month or a unit on Native Americans does not give an accurate picture of how an individual’s culture affects their everyday life. Having different cultures represented in the décor of the classroom, mentioned in the lesson, or by using texts written by people of other cultures are all suggestions. Kim talked about sexual orientation or sexual attraction. The most important point she stressed was having a classroom that accepts everyone. Sexualities other than heterosexual are not a new phenomenon. The forwardness and openness of the issue is very recent however. Students are coming from homes with varying views of the issue, with some not as tolerant as others. Walking a thin line between offending a student’s personal beliefs on the issue by calling the student out on their rude or intolerant behavior and informing them of the necessity that everyone has the same right to their beliefs as that student will be a difficult task but a critical one. Lizzie talked about gender stereotypes and issues. She showed us a book “I’m glad I’m a girl. I’m glad I’m a boy.” Apparently it was written as a satire of society but it was not taken that way and subsequently banned from many places and is now out of print. However, some of the stereotypes are not too far from the mark. Gender is still important to recognize if only to be aware and actively combat imposing personal and societal stereotypes on your students.

I thought the group did very well. The visuals/movies/technology was relevant, interesting, and further supported the points made in the presentation. Each group member seemed well prepared and presented the material in a manner easily understood by the audience. Most of what they said I knew but on a level where I could vaguely attempt to re-explain it to someone else. Their presentation made the ideas a lot clearer and gave me concrete goals on which to focus.