Alexandra Rivera

​Everyone has a heritage and culture they are a part of but, many do not know what it means to be or have this culture within us. At these early stages of life, it is not only vital for them to learn about their own cultures as well as their peers, but it is a perfect time to expose them to the different forms of media that each culture brings to the table. Ignorance is NOT bliss! I believe having knowledge of the many cultures we are surrounded with every day, is a necessary tool all students will need in order to have a well-rounded and educated background going into the real world. Multicultural learning has been implemented in the art classroom for decades and the benefits of this type of learning are ultimately why it is so important to me as an educator. Some benefits are that exposure to cultural diversity would help the students “be treated with equal dignity and respect within the school environment” (Considering Multicultural Art, Adejumo,2002, PG 2), and teach students to have pride for their culture and learning that everyone being from different parts of the world is what makes us unique from one another. Individuality is how we strive in the community and learning that we each bring something unique and different to the table helps children understand their place in the world and what they can contribute to it.