Multicultural Awareness??

Class was very interesting, in that I am not like the rest of the class. We talk about multicultural education (MCEd) and discuss various questions. Today we discussed a couple of topics worth mentioning.

First, Dr. Stoney commented that she read an article in the KC Star last week and was surprised/disappointed in its content. The article went about to say that blacks are less associating themselves as African-Americans, and more as black Americans. She felt this meant that they were losing their ancestory, and was in turn semi-offended. I feel that this means blacks are becoming more of America and less of a subgroup in America; just as they should. I am not against someone who wants connections to their heritage, but you should have stronger connections to your country, espically being 3rd or more generations. I am second generation in America, so I could call myself and Italian-American, but I prefer to just be American.

Second, we discussed where our MCEd started. For about 2/3's of the class, they said they weren't really around other races until college, at K-State. Wow, but coming from many small Kansas towns, its understandable. I must be lucky however. I remember being in NYC and having Hispanic next door neighbors with childrin about my age and playing with them (most of my memories are based off of pictures). Then I moved to Prompton, with 'bout 2 black families in the 20 mile radius. But in Garden, wow, talk about multi-racial! There were about 40% Mexicans when I was there, up to about 50% now (I think). There are also other races, multiple Asians, Blacks, Latinos, and Whites too! That was very diverse. But being at Junction/Manhattan is very diverse as well. Anyways, my point is that I am an exception to the group. One of the few who wasn't multiculturally deprived till early 20's and I'm not black! (the rest of the 1/3 that was in the same above mentioned group was about 2/3's black)

The third thing is something that is more...well, not as main-stream. Dr. Stoney asked us what our schools were doing to deal with MCEd. Someone from Topeka 501 told her story about monthly (I think) reports, another complained of how the school she subbed in still had up Kansas Day bulliten boards, even though we are 1/2 way into Black History Month. We (the JC people) were then asked what Junction City was doing. The other teacher from JC, didn't really say anything, so I spoke up. I said we didn't really do anything. Dr. Stoney was surprised, but really, I don't think we need to do anything. Not that I don't believe in cultures, but if the point of MCEd is to treat all to an equal education, then we shouldn't be focused on their cultures. Eventually, if everyone treated everyone the same and had the same view of themselves as others, we would be the culture of America. Wow, a shocking idea. But really, at Junction we don't celebrate Cinco de Mayo, or do much for Black History Month, or Christmas, or Thanksgiving for that matter. If you want equal education, you need to become an equal.

Hehh...that is more than I've posted ever....and probably for a while....Besides that, good day, sore leg from hockey and I have stuff to grade.