TODAY

Today was a very interesting day. I apologizing for being so vocal in class, but I honestly cannot help it. In an academic setting such as this one, discussing issues that I find myself so passionate in I have no self-control. With that disclaimer in mind, I still have so much I long to say.

A few things really jumped out at me today, fist is the definition of multiculturalism. I think it is important to include “class, sex, sexuality, age, abilities, geography, and other forms of ‘location’” as Morton acknowledges (33). Secondly the process of unlearning and the process of acknowledging what I do not know, as a teacher, before I even begin teaching. That seemed not only scary but also uncomfortable at best, not only do I have to brush up on the things I do know but I have to think about the things that I do not know. What?! This seems impossible and humbling at the same time. Yes I know that I am not the “all knowing being who is the god sent to impart knowledge on the empty vessels of my students, but that is more of a thought rather than a list of what I do and do not know. Also when I am in the classroom, most of those, “wow, I never thought of it that way” moments come from my students imparting new and fresh ideas on me.

In the Morton article she quotes Shehan Campbell and Carol Scott-Kassner, “multiethnic music education is ‘to offer children an understanding of how the music reflects people’s lifestyles and ways of thinking across cultural boundaries.” (33). I think this should always be our goal as music educators. I am not going to teach a Brahms folk song without explaining the history and inspirations behind it, so why would I teach a Dominican folk song any differently? Conversely I agreed with Morton “each person belongs to more than one cultural group.” The football player can also be a poet whom belongs to the Poet Society and may also be Black, and homosexual. That one hypothetical person belongs to four different social groups, he may however only associate and categorize himself with one or more of those categories. After all, people’s actions and hobbies do not define them as people. Just a thought!