Family As First Culture: An Inside/Out Approach to Teaching About Self and Other Corey Harbaugh, Third Coast WP

The Problem… Why are you making us read your politics? We dont really care about this. This is your own personal agenda. It doesnt mean anything to us. Gobles High School 11 th Grade Student, 1997

Why The Culture Project Approach? To avoid what Louise Derman-Sparks referred to as tourism multiculturalism. Inquiry Project that Grows Out of the Three-Question Exercise: –What question have you always wanted to ask a member of another culture? –What is one thing that has always troubled you about another culture? –What is one thing youve always found interesting, wonderful, or cool about another culture? To Create a Sense of Identity in Students that Becomes Context for Studying The Other. Multiple Genre Writing Works

From Charles Lemert: Of all the available human capacities, Putting-it- into-words is the most powerful. Thinking-it, Feeling-it, or Seeing-it by themselves, are nothing. It is only when people put what they think or sense or see into words that whatever is there to be thought, felt, or seen comes into play as a force in social life. Social Theory: Multiculturalism and Classic Readings

In that spirit… Race and Culture Glossary See Handout

Activity: Family As First Culture See Handout Choosing one culture you specifically identified on your Mandala, answer the following question: What did your family teach you, and/or not teach you, about your membership in this culture? (Membership might be your rights and responsibilities, mores and folkways, role, celebrations, vestiges of culture, story, etc. You might tell a story or reflect on lessons learned from your family, but please work to be as specific as possible.

Rules for Discussion/Observation 1.Use I Statements: You do not have permission to speak on behalf of a person or group! 2.Own Your Own Stuff 3.Be Respectful By Speaking When Its Your Turn, and Listening When Its Your Turn. 4.Commit to Confidentiality: There Is No Context Outside This Room

Amen: Belief in ones own culture does not require disdain for other cultures. But one step at a time: no (person) can hope to ingest other cultures all at once, certainly not before it ingests its own. As we begin to master our own culture, then we can explore the world. (Arthur Schlesinger, 1991)