A Caution About Introducing Children to Other Cultures

by Pam Connell | More from this Blogger

19 Apr 2008 12:11 PM

When I was a preschool teacher, I attended a workshop that challenged something I most loved to do. I was startled-someone was challenging something I believed was healthy and showed a commitment to diversity. As an adoptive parent, I now understand their point more than ever. I've always loved other cultures and try to show kids different customs, costumes and music from around the world. So I was very surprised when the workshop leaders criticized the "country of the week/month" held in many preschool and primary classes. The leaders pointed out that we often do this in a way which fosters a tourist mentality, focusing on differences and running the risk of making the culture seem exotic and thus even stranger--the opposite effect of what we intended. Sometimes schools focus on the unique aspects of another country's traditions, and fail to show the kids that people in that country use technology, have professional jobs, and have similarities between their lives and ours. They may not make the connection that people of that heritage can also be American.

As a concrete example of what I mean, teachers who try to put up multicultural pictures in their classroom sometimes focus on pictures of traditional costumes, dances and dwellings. But-here's the important question: what does it say to my daughter (and no less importantly, to those peers who will interact with her all her life) if everyone who looks like my daughter is shown squatting in front of a thatched hut?

South Korea does have some thatched houses-just like Ireland-but it also has one of the highest rates of cell phone and internet access in the world, and Korean-Americans have all kinds of jobs including professional ones. Kids need to see some pictures, of both people in different countries and Americans of different ethnicities, in roles that show modern as well as ancient culture, similarities as well as differences. Sure, show pictures of traditional costumes-and show present-day children in their school uniforms. Show a Native American medicine man-and a Native American teacher. Show African, Latino, Asian and Native people using computers.

We want our children to appreciate differences, yes, but we mustn't lose the important lesson that we are more alike than different, that people from all cultures have become Americans and do all kinds of jobs, and that all of our kids can grow up to be whatever they want.

PLease see these related blogs:

What Can be Done to Encourage Tolerance?

Seeking Out Diversity

Supporting Minority Teachers

Learn more about Pam Connell

Pam Connell is a mother of three by both birth and adoption. She has worked in education, child care, social services, ministry and journalism.

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centraloregonmom (295) 20 Apr 2008 01:26 PM

When I was growing up we hosted exchange students nearly every year after about the 5th grade. They were mostly from Japan, but we also had one from Guatemala and one from Costa Rica, along with a couple of exchange police officers from Monaco. They shared their traditional culture along with their 20th/21st century life. It was a wonderful way to get us enthused about learning about other countries, not just the "tourist" version. Because of those visits (some for extended stays), my sister and I both spent time studying abroad, learning - first hand - how they lived. My husband and I have agreed we will do the same for our kids, but want to wait until they are old enough to understand the purpose of the students' visits. Whether they want to study abroad, as I did, will be up to them - but I hope they will consider it!