Cultural Competence... from previous discussions... EYLF p. 16... in the section titled Practice Educators who are culturally competent respect multiple cultural ways of knowing, seeing and living, celebrate the benefits of diversity and have an ability to understand and honour differences. This is evident in everyday practice when educators demonstrate an ongoing commitment to developing their own cultural competence in a two way process with families and communities. Educators view culture and the context of family as central to children’s sense of being and belonging, and to success in lifelong learning. Educators also seek to promote children’s cultural competence. Cultural competence is much more than awareness of cultural differences. It is the ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures. Cultural competence encompasses: • being aware of one’s own world view • developing positive attitudes towards cultural differences • gaining knowledge of different cultural practices and world views • developing skills for communication and interaction across cultures My puzzlings: - How do I or others know and or measure cultural competence in ourselves and or others? - Is it possible and do I really to want to honour all differences? e.g. poverty - How can families that I engage in a professional context be part of my developing cultural competence? Do I really want that? If I dont does that risk my cultural competence? - How would you like someone to promote your cultural competence on your behalf in a professional context? How can/will we do that with/for children? - Who decides and or measures the ability to understand and communicate across cultures? Some people see the political value of this term, others find it central to their everyday philosophies - so this is not an exercise in suggesting that we dont learn, use or engage with the practice, but rather, one set of questions - and Im sure there are others - because it doesnt sit safely in my paradigm handbag - but thats not to say that its not the perfect purse for others... I also dont completely know what Id have instead - I still dont think we have done enough with anti bias... and I dont feel like these questions require answered per se - but rather Im curious about what it prompts for others... Whaddyas reckon?
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 09:58:52 +0000
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