This week's lecture focused on the functionality of teaching; more specifically the many effective techniques of teaching children of different races. One main point is the five main tenets of teaching African Americans. These include African logic, African epistemological styles (symbols, images, rhythm), African axiology (values/relationships), and cultural visibility in the curriculum. All these factors naturally play an important role in the education of African American's. If we are not able to relate to the material how would we be able to value it.
Another key point was culturally relevant teaching. The school systems must teach children from an alternative paradigm, one that validates and exalts culture. The days of forced assimilation and the colonial classroom are long gone; thus, we must make it a priority to teach the youth to value their culture as well as the culture of others. Instead of tearing the culture down and degrading traditions as we have done in the past, we must now use facets of these cultures to educate.
A third point was communal responsibility. As we have learned in previous lectures, this is a big part of what Howard tries to endure in its students. With these three initiatives, America can make a huge impact in educating its disadvantaged.
Kristen Bailey
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