My Reflections

a      In an ever revolving world as ours it is imperative for school curricula to adapt to the changes of modern culture. I believe that the principal objective of a school curriculum is to educate and prepare students for the realities of the outside world. In order for this goal to be met, the curriculum has to be germane and applicable to the social context of the student.  I do agree that there are aspects of modern culture that are controversial  and provocative, therefore the onus is on school management to filter what will be adapted. Developmentally appropriate practice, validity and age appropriateness need to be considered in adapting some aspects of modern culture into the school curriculum. However, I would like to stress that the purpose of education is for information and not conversion. Therefore, a controversial subject can be taught solely for the purpose of information and not persuasion or conversion. The implication of a school curriculum that is adaptive to modern culture is that the students will be more versatile, informed, knowledgeable and better equipped to form decisions that will impact their future.

b      I am of the view that the purpose and apt use of the hash tag must be taught in schools in order to avoid abuse and misuse.  Students need to be taught that a hash tag is a word or phrase without any spaces.  The hash tag is used by companies, schools, individuals to mark key words, topics, business ideas, branding, themes and it gives direction on the thrust of a matter. It also helps identify trending topics for search purposes. Ignorance of these aims can lead to misappropriation and misapplication. The current trend is to now use a hash tag for everything. It is getting more out of control as the days go by. Schools need to rise to the challenge, become relevant and educate appropriate use of the hash tag. We cannot assume that everyone will know the aim of the hash tag simply because it’s trendy. It has to be taught. Proper education on the suitable use of social media will help students use such platforms responsibly and the world will be better for it.

c       The whole world has now become a global village as a result of modernization. The need for schools to promote an inclusive culture cannot be over emphasized. I work in a multi-cultural school setting and I currently have Nigerian, Indian, Lebanese, American, Syrian and Egyptian students in my class. Some of these students come in with little or no knowledge of English language which is the school’s lingua franca. I have had to learn basic greetings in Arabic in order to communicate with my students. In promoting an inclusive culture in a school, teachers must be educated about cultural diversity so they can approach students in a non-prejudiced way.  Educators should understand that every student has a right to learn regardless of his culture, background, religion or gender. Partnership with parents is also another way of promoting an inclusive culture. Last year, I invited parents of different nationalities to share their culture with the students; it was an interesting time as we learned songs, discussed cultural practices, saw their dressing and ate their foods. Both parents and students were excited and everyone had a sense of belonging. Schools can celebrate national days of different countries with flags, etc. Flexibility, understanding and tolerance must be fostered in the school environment. I once had a Chinese student who would never sit to eat at the table when it’s lunch time. He would take his lunch pack to the mat and eat on the floor. At first, I had a problem with this but my co-teacher informed that it was a cultural practice and no one disturbed him until he decided to start joining his classmates at the table. Student worksheets can be translated into student’s first language to give room for clarity and understanding until the child is able to understand the second language. We just cannot be rigid here. Schools can promote an inclusive culture by employing staff of different nationalities and creating activities that will give everyone a sense of value.