The Role of Identity in Educational Practices
Cultural identity within the classroom is at the forefront of Precious Knowledge, a documentary about a controversial Mexican American studies program taught in Tucson High School. While 48 percent of Mexican American students currently drop out of high school, Tucson High’s Mexican American Studies Program has become a national model of educational success, with 100 percent of enrolled students graduating from high school and 85 percent going on to attend college. This film was particularly relevant to me because it allowed me to examine the influence of cultural identity from an outside perspective. I taught at a school where roughly a third of my students were coded as Limited English Proficiency …show more content…
In his book Gary Younge examines the idea of varying identities and the ways in which we can use those identities to find a common humanality. Through an analysis of the ways in which people identify and the importance they place on their identity, Younge argues that the goal should not be to find the strengths in each distinct identifying group, but rather in the ways they can be brought together to promote globalization (p. 19).
By examining his past life experiences, Younge demonstrates the varied ways in which people can identify, often proving that some identities are more recognizable than others. He presents examples of how he has chosen to identify: background, race, religious affiliations, political associations. Through his own experiences in Barbados, he also cites the importance of stepping outside of our identity.
Younge concludes his analysis of identity by acknowledging that identities do help us understand the world we live in. He holds true to the principal that there is strength in unifying humanity towards globalization rather than focusing on the inequalities of each identity group. (p. 319). “Either way, it is through the prism of these vignettes that we frame our take on the …show more content…
Her ethnographic study relied on naturalistic observations to collect data and researchers spent extensive time with the families to provide first hand accounts of the family dynamic. 88 children ranging from 9 to 10 years of age and from middle, working, and poor class families were observed over the course of multiple visits.
The case study led Lareau to the conclusion that there is a close relationship between a child’s societal class and their upbringing. (p. 31) The argument placed a distinction in studying the middle class versus the poor and working class. The argument was supported by findings in how social class impacted the organization of the children’s lives, the language used in the home, and the interactions between families and institutions. Middle class families used concerted cultivation in their parenting whereas poor and working class families were categorized with the accomplishment of natural growth. While I did assume the differences in each of the social classes would be fairly obvious, I do feel Lareau’s research fairly represented not only the advantages but the flaws as well. For example, middle class families organize their children’s lives with scheduled activities, allow for reasoning in conversations, and are quick to intervene in favor of the child. However
Cultural identity within the classroom is at the forefront of Precious Knowledge, a documentary about a controversial Mexican American studies program taught in Tucson High School. While 48 percent of Mexican American students currently drop out of high school, Tucson High’s Mexican American Studies Program has become a national model of educational success, with 100 percent of enrolled students graduating from high school and 85 percent going on to attend college. This film was particularly relevant to me because it allowed me to examine the influence of cultural identity from an outside perspective. I taught at a school where roughly a third of my students were coded as Limited English Proficiency …show more content…
In his book Gary Younge examines the idea of varying identities and the ways in which we can use those identities to find a common humanality. Through an analysis of the ways in which people identify and the importance they place on their identity, Younge argues that the goal should not be to find the strengths in each distinct identifying group, but rather in the ways they can be brought together to promote globalization (p. 19).
By examining his past life experiences, Younge demonstrates the varied ways in which people can identify, often proving that some identities are more recognizable than others. He presents examples of how he has chosen to identify: background, race, religious affiliations, political associations. Through his own experiences in Barbados, he also cites the importance of stepping outside of our identity.
Younge concludes his analysis of identity by acknowledging that identities do help us understand the world we live in. He holds true to the principal that there is strength in unifying humanity towards globalization rather than focusing on the inequalities of each identity group. (p. 319). “Either way, it is through the prism of these vignettes that we frame our take on the …show more content…
Her ethnographic study relied on naturalistic observations to collect data and researchers spent extensive time with the families to provide first hand accounts of the family dynamic. 88 children ranging from 9 to 10 years of age and from middle, working, and poor class families were observed over the course of multiple visits.
The case study led Lareau to the conclusion that there is a close relationship between a child’s societal class and their upbringing. (p. 31) The argument placed a distinction in studying the middle class versus the poor and working class. The argument was supported by findings in how social class impacted the organization of the children’s lives, the language used in the home, and the interactions between families and institutions. Middle class families used concerted cultivation in their parenting whereas poor and working class families were categorized with the accomplishment of natural growth. While I did assume the differences in each of the social classes would be fairly obvious, I do feel Lareau’s research fairly represented not only the advantages but the flaws as well. For example, middle class families organize their children’s lives with scheduled activities, allow for reasoning in conversations, and are quick to intervene in favor of the child. However