A number of demographic, democratic and pedagogical factors address the significance of culturally relevant pedagogy.
Demographic Significance
The student population of America's classrooms has changed. Currently, 43% of students in our nation's schools come from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Latinos account for 20% of the school population and Blacks 17%. Nationally, white students now represent 57% of public school enrollment, down from 61% in the 1993-94 school year. In the largest school districts, half or more of the students are non-white. Demographic projections predict that cultural and ethnic diversity will increase. Students of color will become the majority in the United States by 2023.
Consequently, these demographic data imply that educators should master effective pedagogical approaches that address the needs of all students regardless of their cultural and linguistic background, social class, or immigrant status. To learn more about these demographic changes listen to Jim Scheurich discuss how the economic viability of the US depends on the academic success of students of color.
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Democratic Significance
The importance of culturally relevant pedagogy is related not just to our changing demographics but also related to our democratic ideals. Our democratic heritage is based on core values such as liberty, justice and equality and it honors the unique experiences of cultural, racial, ethnic and linguistic minorities. In her book, Teaching to Change the World, Jeannie Oakes describes how culturally relevant teachers can transform their classroom into apprenticeships for democracy. For example, one teacher encouraged her first-graders to discuss openly their experiences with poverty in their housing projects. A high school teacher used the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, to teach her students to think critically about racism, single parent homes, sexism and discrimination in the criminal justice system. For more information about the democratic significance of culturally relevant pedagogy, read Diversity Within Unity.
Pedagogical Significance
Finally, culturally relevant pedagogy is important because it is pedagogically sound. The Center for Research on Education, Diversity, & Excellence (CREDE) has developed standards for effective pedagogy that illustrate the compatibility of culturally relevant pedagogy with research on effective instruction. Read the Five Standards of Effective Pedagogy.
Culturally relevant teachers use the best of what we know about good teaching. The extensive teacher-effectiveness research informs us that successful teachers of students of color exhibit behaviors that are compatible with the instructional behaviors of any effective teacher. However, teachers who practice culturally relevant pedagogy have more professional expertise than effective teachers who do not have these skills. For more insight, read Ladson-Billings' "But that's just good teaching! The case for culturally relevant pedagogy". The basic principles of good teaching are addressed in the culturally relevant research. For example, the culturally relevant pedagogy and the effective teaching research emphasize:
- Connecting students' prior knowledge and cultural experiences with new concepts,
- Constructing and designing relevant cultural metaphors and images,
- Designing culturally appropriate transfer devices,
- Setting high expectations, and
- Instituting positive classroom climates and positive relationships with parents and community.
To see an activity on parent interviews, click here.
- Understanding students' cultural knowledge and experiences and selecting appropriate instructional materials,
- Helping students find meaning and purpose in what is to be learned, and
- Using culturally familiar speech and events
Ultimately, however, culturally relevant pedagogy is important because it benefits all students regardless of their ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Klingner wrote: "Culturally responsive educational systems benefit all children. When educators strive to develop the individual self-worth of each child, everyone gains. Also, exposure to a variety of experiences enriches lives by broadening perspectives and validating each person's uniqueness and sense of belonging to a larger whole."
