Education And Cultural Identity
From its early beginnings, education and teaching have been a way to preserve cultural values and knowledge. Today, the education system has become more globalised, with students increasingly exposed to other cultures and views that play an important part in shaping individual identities, and how their roles fit into our modern society.
Cultural Representation
Cultural representation within curriculum subjects such as literature, history and art is important to help nurture student identities and broaden their understanding of the world. Without inclusivity, students from marginalised backgrounds may feel alienated or underrepresented which can lead to the reinforcement of inequality.
Language can have a profound impact on a student’s cultural identity, influencing how they see themselves and embrace other cultures. In countries where students’ mother tongue is taught, it helps to preserve traditions and nurtures their sense of heritage. Studies have shown that students taught in their mother tongue perform better academically at an early age. If, however, only dominant languages are used, students may face linguistic displacement that promotes the erosion of indigenous heritages.
The accounts and case studies of which cultures’ stories are told and which ones are marginalised help form an understanding of cultural histories and shape how students see their own identity. Including diversity in historical narratives can help foster empathy and understanding while a focus on individual history can lead to a singular, limited view of the world.
Globalisation, international schools and migration have led to a blending of cultures, where education which embodies multiple cultural elements can help expose students to multiple viewpoints and adopt multicultural traditions, leading to a greater global understanding.
Promoting Social Change
Education is often a powerful driver for social change. New cultural movements and ideas can help shape the material taught within schools to challenge traditional views, promote equality and foster critical thinking. This provides students with the tools they need to become informed in areas of gender equality and of economic differences that can shape ideologies and create inclusive communities. An example of this can be seen in the inclusion of the recent Black Lives Matter movement in some school curricula subjects such as history and sociology. This helps to bring current and relevant issues to the forefront, to enable awareness and inspire discussions on racial inequality and modern activism.
Challenges Of Multicultural Education
Some of the key challenges to multicultural education lie in the fact that many curricula are rooted in dominant cultural narratives. This can sometimes be down to a lack of teacher training or resources to teach diverse classrooms, or because institutions can view multicultural initiatives as unimportant. It can be complicated to ensure that teaching materials and methods are non-biased and do not reinforce stereotypes.
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Gavin Crewe is a regular contributor of informative articles to Oxford Home Schooling.