Home » ExchangeEveryDay » Centering the Culture, Stories and Traditions of Children and Families



ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues


<< Previous Issue | View Past Issues | | Next Issue >> ExchangeEveryDay
Centering the Culture, Stories and Traditions of Children and Families
September 6, 2022
It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.
-Audrey Lorde, 1934-1992, Writer and Activist

In 1930, Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky wrote, “When we consider the phenomenon of collective creativity, which combines all these drops of individual creativity that frequently are insignificant in themselves, we readily understand what an enormous percentage of what has been created by humanity is a product of the anonymous collective creative work of unknown inventors.”

Early childhood caregivers and teachers bear witness almost daily to ‘all these drops of individual creativity.’ They also choose what elements of our resulting collective creativities - our culture(s) - to emphasize with young children. Educators Mike Browne and Amir Gilmore remind us, "As 'cultural gatekeepers' (Watson, 2012) teachers shape a child’s understanding of their place in the world, because what they see within a child is what they produce out of the child." Speaking specifically to the experience of young Black boys, as they both once were, Browne and Gilmore go on, “Culture matters. As social actors and cultural gatekeepers, educators serve a critical role in Black boys’ lives, because they determine whose dreams are essential and how they will be centered. Through culture, teachers have the potential to instill a literacy of worthiness in their students.”

Dive deeper into the space where culture, childhood, and creativity meet by joining Browne and Gilmore in a compelling live conversation on September 13, exploring the ways the arts stimulate, nurture, and sustain children's - especially Black children's - self-explorations, joys, curiosities, creativities, well-being, and love of learning.

ExchangeEveryDay

Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

What is ExchangeEveryDay?

ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.



Comments (2)

Displaying All 2 Comments
Kirsten Haugen · September 06, 2022
Exchange Press
Eugene, OR, United States


Absolutely agree with you, Francis. So often 'special needs' is a deficit mindset and ignores the opportunities to work with a child through their interests and strengths or to see the multiple ways learning can unfold through the arts - or other 'non-traditional' approaches. Hope you'll join us for this conversation with Mike and Amir!

Francis Wardle · September 06, 2022
University of Phoenix/ Red Rocks Community College
Denver, Colorado, United States


I appreciate this reminder of the critical value of the arts in supporting the growth, development, and education of young children. However, it's imperative that we advocate for art activities for ALL young children, especially those who struggle academically. This is one reason I am so frustrated when children in special education are pulled from art activities and cannot receive "specials". The arts are for everyone, as John Dewey so eloquently argued.



Post a Comment

Have an account? to submit your comment.


required

Your e-mail address will not be visible to other website visitors.
required
required
required

Check the box below, to help verify that you are not a bot. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this form.



Disclaimer: Exchange reserves the right to remove any comments at its discretion or reprint posted comments in other Exchange materials.