Multiculturalism in the Modern World: Jen Holladay at TEDxDenverTeachers

Summary

In this TED Talk, a parent Guardian from Denver Public Schools emphasizes the importance of a deeper approach to multicultural education. They critique the superficial inclusion of food, festivals, and folklore, arguing for a more rigorous and critical engagement with diverse perspectives. The speaker advocates for a multiculturalism that is academically rigorous, promotes pro-social skills, and fosters social justice or critical thinking. They share examples from their child's education, highlighting the transformative power of teaching history from multiple viewpoints, such as Native American resistance narratives and the perspective of a buffalo in the context of westward expansion.

Takeaways

• 👨‍🏫 The speaker emphasizes the importance of multicultural education that goes beyond表面的文化元素如食物、节日、英雄和民间故事，提倡深入的内容和教学。
• 🎓 Multiculturalism in education should be rigorous, focusing on content and instruction that supports skill building and advanced learning.
• 🤝 It should foster pro-social capacities, enabling students to view issues from multiple perspectives and work collaboratively in diverse groups.
• 📚 The speaker criticizes the trivialization of significant cultural and historical events, such as serving tacos for Cinco de Mayo, which can reinforce stereotypes.
• 👀 The value of multicultural content is not just in its origin but also in the messages it conveys, which should be carefully considered.
• 🏫 The speaker shares their experience with Highline Academy Charter School, which practices purposeful integration and uses Core Knowledge Plus curriculum to ensure a balanced and rigorous education.
• 🌟 A key example is the teaching of westward expansion, where the speaker wanted their child to understand both the positive and negative impacts of progress.
• 📖 The use of diverse narratives, including resistance stories, is crucial for providing a comprehensive view of historical events.
• 🌱 The Denver Green School's approach to teaching westward expansion from the perspective of a buffalo is highlighted as an innovative method to engage students.
• 🌐 The ultimate goal of multicultural education is to empower children to participate effectively in a diverse democracy, preparing them to be critical thinkers.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the speaker's talk on multiculturalism?

The speaker focuses on a rigorous and advanced form of multiculturalism that includes content and instruction, pro-social capacities, and advancing social justice or critical thinking.

Why does the speaker express concern about using food and festivals to represent multiculturalism in schools?

The speaker is concerned because such practices can reinforce stereotypes and trivialize important cultural aspects, rather than promoting a deeper understanding of the cultures.

What is the risk associated with serving tacos for Cinco de Mayo in schools, according to the speaker?

The risk is that students may not associate the food with the historical significance of Mexican resistance to French occupation, thus trivializing the event.

Why does the speaker criticize the use of folklore and fables in early childhood classrooms?

The speaker criticizes this approach because it may not convey the messages and values of the stories as much as their geographical origin, which is not the primary goal of multicultural education.

What was the speaker's daughter's reaction to the story 'The Selkie Girl' in her multicultural anthology?

The speaker's daughter, and the speaker themselves, were uncomfortable with the story's content, which was inappropriate for a second-grade literacy class.

What are the three characteristics of the multiculturalism the speaker advocates for?

The three characteristics are: 1) Rigor in content and instruction, 2) Development of pro-social capacities, and 3) Advancement of social justice or critical thinking.

What was the controversy in Denver Public Schools regarding the new teacher evaluation protocol?

The controversy arose because the new draft included elements related to social justice, which some community members feared would turn children into socialists, while others argued it was necessary to prevent reinforcing a white supremacist system.

How does the speaker describe Highline Academy Charter School's approach to multiculturalism?

Highline Academy Charter School is described as a purposefully integrated school with a 50/50 split of students of color and white students, using a Core Knowledge Plus curriculum to ensure a rigorous and diverse learning experience.

What was the speaker's concern about her daughter's westward expansion unit in second grade?

The speaker was concerned that her daughter was only getting half of the story, focusing on the positive aspects for some groups while not fully addressing the negative impacts on others, such as Native Americans.

How did Highline Academy Charter School supplement the core knowledge sequence for the westward expansion unit?

They supplemented with various resources including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and resistance narratives to provide a more balanced and comprehensive view of the historical event.

What was the unique approach taken by the Denver Green School for teaching the westward expansion unit?

The Denver Green School taught the unit from the perspective of the Buffalo, offering a unique and multicultural viewpoint that allowed students to understand the impact of westward expansion on different species and environments.