Acculturation

Guided Response: Review at least two of your peers’ postings and extend their learning and the discussion by asking them to clarify their point of view, provide examples or evidence. From reading your peers’ post share an insight or strategy that you learned from the video or your reading that may cause them to evaluate their thoughts.

I enjoyed reading your in-depth response and I particularly appreciated the personal emphasis you have put on embracing the differences of each child. That is the inherent start of any sort of environment of cultural competence. However, a point I would like to discuss in reference to your post is my questioning the place of acculturation. When learning about diversity, most initiatives teach us to embrace the differences of the learner, however, often, these students have been a part of American culture for a substantial time as well, and therefore this process needs to be taken into account. Acculturation allows for an individual to become acclimated to a new culture while still holding on or adapting traditions and aspects of the original culture. This is different from assimilation, which results in a form of cultural pluralism according to Schachner, Noack, Van de Vijver, and Eckstein (2016). Thus, while equality and inclusion are important in promoting diversity, educators must also ensure that the focus remains on acculturation.

References

Schachner, M. K., Noack, P., Van de Vijver, F. R., & Eckstein, K. (2016). Cultural diversity climate and psychological adjustment at school-equality and inclusion versus cultural pluralism. Child Development, 87(4), 1175-1191. doi:10.1111/cdev.12536