Fredrick Carr

EDU 200-02
Today, we live in a day and age where we have many different cultures and races in our country.
These different cultures and races make our country the great melting put that it is. Though having
different cultures is great, in the teaching setting, one can sometimes run into some issues. Cultural,
racial, and diversity issues are always possible to be present but it is up to us as teachers to do our best to
erase those lines and make everyone feel welcome. Knowledge and understanding of each culture, race,
and orientation, whether political or sexual, is a way to overcome problems in the classroom.
One problem with is that it with a lack of knowledge on different cultures. It is very easy to
mistake one culture, race, social group or orientation with another if you are not aware of the differences
between them. Most young students do not know what the differences are if they are not taught. If not
taught the difference between cultures, races, and sexual orientations the proper way, but are taught
through social media or through other inaccurate sources, they can make assumptions or even accusations
of these cultures and deeply hurt or offend someone. This can cause a divide within the classroom. The
students need to be educated on where every culture that is present in your classroom comes from. They
need to be aware of the different races, sexual orientations, and social groups. Having this knowledge can
be beneficial as it can help avoid confrontation. Not being able to correctly identify any given culture or
misidentifying a culture is one of the problems that many countries, including our own, face today and
can be the cause of many social issues.
Another problem is lack of understanding. Every culture has different spoken and unspoken
rules. These rules are the moral compass in some of these cultures. One problem with is that it with a
lack of knowledge on different cultures, one would not be able to understand why someone does or does
not eat something, why someone can or cannot dress a certain way, or why someone acts or does not act
the same around certain people. This lack of knowledge of these cultures can cause animosity between
groups or pure awkwardness. This knowledge can be the difference between a student fitting in or not

fitting in. This affects the learning atmosphere of the classroom and can cause the students to focus on
their differences instead of the material being taught. This also makes student of different cultures
uncomfortable and worry about fitting in.
Thought there can be some problems, there can be a lot of great advantages to having different
cultures present in the class room as it pertains to knowledge. Learning about each culture present or
making an attempt to, not only makes the student feel comfortable, but it allows them to learn of different
places all across the globe. In learning about where these places are geographically, where these ideas
come from, and learning about what they are student are able to be comfortable in any situation. Student
are also able to have conversations about these topics and be knowledgeable on them. They will learn to
not make assumptions and accurately know the difference between them.
Along with knowledge can come understanding. Understanding the differences between the
cultures and other differences that are in the classroom allows for every student to make connections.
These connections with other students can bring the classroom together and create lifelong friendships.
These connections and friendships can even inspire other to study abroad and learn firsthand about these
different cultures. Understanding provides the opportunity for students to bond over and celebrate their
differences and similarities. It also gives students the chance to explain to others who are unaware of the
differences between similar cultures.
The presence of different cultures in our society have provided many learning opportunities. The
many different cultures that are present within our country is so vast, that America has been known as the
Great American Melting Pot. Understanding coupled with knowledge of these cultures makes a group of
culturally aware people which allows for the acceptance of the different cultures, the differences, and the
similarities between them.