How can you expand your knowledge base about other racial/ethnic groups? Think about one experience you had that taught you about your own biases?
I believe that in order to expand your knowledge base about other racial/ethnic groups, you must personally experience their culture. I don't think any amount of research can really substitute for a real experience. Though, research items can be used as a supplement to the experience - but they must be quality, reliable resources (nothing that would enforce stereotypes or assumptions). I am actually taking a Family and Diversity class this semester, and one of our assignments is to go out and actually get to know a family from a completely different racial/ethnic group than our own. This assignment is excellent because it has us actually goes into a family household and experience what their everyday life is like. Even though this is just a glimpse into a different racial/ethnic group, I believe it is the most accurate way to expand your knowledge base. On a more practical level for a teacher, I would say get to know the families of your students. Get the families involved in school activities and spend time with them. Even asking them about their culture (politely obviously) is an excellent way to learn about them.
In the third grade we had a new student come into our class from Israel. The teacher had her speak to us a little bit about where she came from and what that was like. We learned that she was Jewish and had grown up outside of Jerusalem. She seemed very nice and I decided to talk to her more during lunchtime. That day, the cafeteria was serving hot dogs for lunch. I remember sitting down at the table next to her and watching her take a big bite from her hot dog. Immediately I said to her " I thought Jewish people can't eat meat?!" She looked at me and started to cry. My parents have friends that are Kosher and I had always remembered hearing my parents talking about the things they can and cannot do. It's supposed to be pork that they cannot eat, but I had assumed it was all meat. I also did not know at the time that their are different divisions of the Jewish religion, and some keep Kosher and some do not.
It is wrong to assume that just because someone is of one race/religion/ethnicity, that they are all the same. Just because someone is Italian, it doesn't mean they love pasta. No matter what we are, we are all individuals and should not be pigeon-holed or labeled because of our culture.
Michelle Sullivan
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You are absolutely right, nothing can substitute real experience. We should and need to go out and find out about the children we are working with. I think your assignment is awesome. How wonderful it is to be welcome into the home of people in order to learn their culture. Too often, we only see things from a distance and you are right, this only instills stereotypes. We must be hands-on with our students and be open and honest about our stupidity. It is not bad to not know anything about a different culture, but it is bad to judge or wonder from a far.
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