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Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 09:04:44 -0500 (EST)
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From: Joyce_Campbell@ed.gov (Joyce Campbell)
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Subject: [NIFL-ESL:2494] Re: : effective teacher - cultural
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Subject: [NIFL-ESL:2489] Re: : effective teacher - cultural
Author: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov at Internet
Date: 11/8/98 11:36 AM
The United States is not culturally diverse. We have a tolerant society
in
which individuals are free to practice a wide variety of customs. But there
are limits. I am biased. I do think (as apparently do you) that the
American system is generally superior to the alternatives. In my case, it
is because of the values I grew up with - the values reflected in american
culture. In your case, it is a value judgment that caused you to leave your
native culture in favor of the United States. Was ther nothing in your
native culture that you are glad you left behind?
I consider it barbaric that the Chinese, and other people would consider
sex-selection abortion, or that women should be relegated to being
housewives - as is their only choice in some countries. I don't seek to
change their way of life, but I hope not to have their way of life become
acceptable in the United States. Can you say that you disagree? I don't
claim that we shoule eradicate stereotypes, or ethnocentrism. We should
recognize that we are ethnocentric. It is not the duty of a host country to
wait until an immigrant is "ready to assimilate". It is the place of the
immigrant to conform to the standards of his host nation. By coming to the
US - even as a visitor - you agree to abide American laws from the moment
you set foot in the country. Similarly, an American travelling abroad is
subject to the laws and customs of the country they travel to. An American
who brings pornographty to an Muslim country deserves whatever punishment
their laws require - no matter how excessive or barbaric it is to american
values.
Foreign music, graphic and other arts, religion, philosophy, and almost
every other valuable cultural expression is accepted in the US. What isn't
and shouldn't be tolerated - even for a day - are attutudes and behaviors
that are inconsistent with American life. Men and women in the US
collaborate on all kinds of projects. A person unable or unwilling to
accept this isn't going to do very well. Pretending that it is OK for the
boys & girls to be separated isn't doing the students any favor. You allow
them to (falsely) believe that they will always be able to avoid wotrking
with the opposite sex.
As to youe utterly unsupportable ascertion that I only know about the
bad
things in foreign cultures, I don't know what agenda you hope to
promote with these falsehoods. It is an undeniable fact that, in some
cultures, all of the things I've described are considered normative
behavior. Do you deny this? By requiring immigrants (and visitors) to abide
american law, we necessarily deprive them of the ability to practice some
aspects of their native culture. Should we allow Japanese business men in
the United States to discriminate against Koreans - until they are ready to
accept our notion that Koreans are their equals? You, yourself say we
shouldn't.
At 09:26 AM 11/8/98 -0500, you wrote:
>To Chris--
>country, and I consciously chose to live in the United States, precisely
>because of the cultural diversity! I find your attitude regarding other
>cultures biased and demeaning. Is only western (translate "American")
>society "worthwhile" society? Your knowledge of other cultures seems to
>be limited to topless women, loin cloths, wife and child beaters, women
>who make pottery, and men who go off hunting. In your writing, you
>demonstrate the very behavior and attitude you proclaim we must
>eradicate: stereotyping and ethnocentrism.
>
>An effective teacher aims to introduce the student to the new culture by
>explaining the culture, including the "undesirable" aspects of it (and
>we have plenty of those), its laws and mores, while permitting the
>student to retain some of his or her own cultural identity until he or
>she is ready to accept our way of life. Of course they must be made to
>understand that wife-beating is unacceptable in our society and carries
>grave consequences. However, it is possible, you know, to explain your
>own culture without cutting down theirs!
>
>
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