Alanna Gaylord's Art Education Portfolio

Description:

            Diversity and multiculturalism are two closely related terms that connect in content, but differ in meaning. Diversity is a term used to broadly refer to many demographic variables, including race, religion, color, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, etc. Multiculturalism, on the other hand, is the co-existence of diverse cultures, where culture includes racial, religious, or cultural groups and is manifested in customary behaviors, cultural assumptions and values, patterns of thinking, and communicative styles. Multiculturalism is finding the connection and acceptance between and among different cultures. In regards to the school curriculum, diversity and multiculturalism are two significant themes that require a great deal of attention. In October 2006, the American Arts Board of Directors made a statement that reflected their support for the development, expression, and preservation of art and culture of all communities, groups, and individuals. Consequently, standards were altered to enforce the teaching and encouragement of diversity, equality, and social justice in the art classroom. These standards have helped students across the board construct their own ideas of and actions towards social justice for all groups. Diversity and multiculturalism in the art curriculum demonstrates the idea that art is a universal language and can integrate everyone regardless of personal and/or community identity.

 

Analysis:

            It is important for the art classroom to support and encourage the integration of diversity and different cultures for the main reason that students need to understand that it is important to be an accepting, understanding, and open-minded person in regards to people that are different from themselves. Multicultural education is a way for students to express and share their culture with fellow classmates while learning about other cultures that are different from their own. The goal is for all cultural differences to intermingle among each other while still staying true to individuality. Art being a universal language also has the ability to translate any language or culture into a form of universal representation, which is important when attempting to understand each other. Art can help encourage an accepting environment by allowing a child to express their own identity and learn to accept the expression of diverse identities around them as well. By providing an art curriculum that integrates cultures and diversity and stresses the importance of togetherness, the teacher will create an understanding and a respect for all cultures. Multiculturalism in education will widen the perspective of students and can lead to empowerment and human dignity.

 

Reflection:

            Teaching in the Albert D. Lawton Intermediate School art classroom allowed me to have many experiences with both diversity and multiculturalism. Due to ADL’s recent increase in both cultural and economic diversity, I was able to experience a spectrum of students across both cultural and economic status. I have found that when teaching it is important to have diversity because it encourages the importance of being accepting, understanding, and open-minded. In addition, I have found multicultural education to help students express and share their cultures with fellow classmates while learning about other cultures that are different from their own. In the art classroom, Multiculturalism can widen the perspective of students, for instance when I taught a lesson about the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead and Sugar Skulls, students learned about and made connections with a culture that is different from their own. Art has the ability to translate any language or culture into a form of universal representation, which is important when understanding each other.