The Importance of Culturally Relevant Teaching

This week, the lecture was given by Kimberly Worthy. Ms. Worthy has played a major role in the development of students at LEAP Science and Math Schools. The LEAP Science and Math Schools are placed throughout South Africa and give the students their a chance to shine through their circumstances. Ms. Worthy's background at a school centered on the African approach to education has helped her to relate to her students and their struggle.

Ms. Worthy discussed the Five Tenets of Culturally Relevant Teaching as proposed by Dr. Nichols. The first tenet was African Logic, which is focused on teaching subjects as a whole instead of dividing it up by minute details. The next tenet was African Epistemological Styles. Epistemology is the study of knowledge, and one of the main facets of African knowledge is nature and symbols. The third tenet is African Axiology, or values. The top African value is relationships with others. Cultural Visibility is the fourth tenet, which is the impact of culture in the curriculum and at school. Social, Emotional, and Political Responsibilities is the last tenet.

A culturally relevant teacher must be a master of all these things. In my opinion, the third, fourth, and fifth tenets are the most important for the success of the students. Being that the top African value is relationships, a teacher has to connect to the students and let them know that they are important. Ms. Worthy stated that grades are not as important at LEAP, but there is an increased focus on teacher-student relationships. Teachers must also be able to incorporate cultural knowledge into the curriculum. This way, students from a different perspective of mainstream society, as Ms. Worthy said, will be able to achieve some form of academic success. Culturally relevant teachers finally must impart knowledge of social, emotional, and political responsibilities by influencing students' relationships with other students, with themselves, and with their outside community.

Culturally relevant teaching has the power to boost student learning. Students learn better when they feel that they are safe and they are important. The students at LEAP are often surrounded by poverty and their safety is jeopardized. The tenets of Culturally Relevant Teaching are guidelines of ensuring a student is successful despite their living situations. A proper education serves to free the students from the binds of the world around them.