PME 811(Post 6): Culturally Responsive Educators

Upon reading Castagno & Brayboy's article, Culturally responsive schooling for Indigenous youth: A review of literature, I was provided with another reason of why indigenous culture and education is important in the classroom (2008).

Integrating indigenous education within the classroom, "generally validates the cultures and languages of students and allows them to become co-constructors of knowledge in the school setting”(Castagno & Brayboy, 2008, p.947). Having said this, we as educators must truly recognize the major role we play in having indigenous students become co-constructors of their own knowledge within the classroom. We must have certain degree of competence when it comes to Indigenous history.

In particular, in order to become a "culturally competent educator" we must recognize that it will be a constant learning process on our part and that we must remain flexible and practice adaptability based on the specific Indigenous communities that we as educators work in, the contexts and if one is not working in a specific indigenous community, the particular students with which we are working with (Castagno & Brayboy, 2008, p.947).

How are you preparing yourself to becoming a culturally responsible educator?

I myself am working towards being a culturally responsible educator by taking the initiative to learning as much as I can about the community I work in (the history, traditions, values, and language). In addition, I am taking the Professional Masters of Education at Queen's University with a concentration in Aboriginal Studies so that I am exposed to as many resources and people as I can. In order for the information and new relationships that I make can can lead me into deeper thinking and understanding of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada and their history. This inevitably is what I need in order for me to be an active and positive participant regarding truth and reconciliation. I hope that this is something that all educators will come to recognize as part of their duty not only as role models to youth but as Canadian citizens.

Here are some questions for you to think about:

How is your school preparing or how is your school already a culturally responsible school?

What are some of the factors that have aided in this process and what are are the factors that have previously hindered the process or currrently cause pause for action?

Reference:

Castagno, A. E., & Brayboy, B. M. J. (2008). Culturally responsive schooling for Indigenous youth: A review of the literature. Review of Educational Research, 78(4), 941-993.