Showing posts with label culturally responsive schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label culturally responsive schools. Show all posts

Thursday, October 25, 2007

standards for a culturally responsive school

Recently in my ED 420 class, which some of you are in as well, we went over the Alaska Standards for a Culturally Responsive School. While I was reading the text I couldn't help feeling pressured. The document presented the standards as "guidelines" for educators to follow, but oh what aspiring goals to try to reach! If only I could be a teacher as well rounded as the guidelines suggest. Without a doubt, every single guideline was a brilliant suggestion for educators to follow in order to provide a better chance at success for the rural student. While some are definitely feasible, ("continually involve themselves in learning about the local culture), my concern is brought upon by the enourmous undertaking that following ALL the guidelines would require of educators, not to mention students and community members. I would love to be that teacher, it's just that it seems like it would take me another 4 years (at least) of school to even gain the kind of knowledge that the guidelines wish us to have. I hope that those who are educating us, the future educators, will realize that there have got to be some major curriculum changes for us before we can confidently and successfully apply the guidelines. Thank goodness that we have community members we can rely on for help if we need it.