Online Lesson 3: Sniffing Out Culturally Sensitive Issues

Now it is time to do the online lesson, Sniffing out Culturally Sensitive Issues. In this reading you get an opportunity to enhance your skills and strategies for becoming more aware of culturally sensitive issues; researching a community/culture and building a library of material on tolerance.

As you know, my colleagues, dogs, that is, are known to be good sniffers! Some of them sniff out drugs:
Drug-Sniffing Dogs

Some them sniff out bombs:
Sniffing out Explosives

Some of them even sniff out poisons!:
Sniffing out poisons in soil

So I am sure I can help you sniff out culturally sensitive issues in the communities in which you will work.

Begin this reading by studying the material on tolerance at the following link: Guidelines

Next, use the following set of activities as part of a self assessment:

1. Identify a group you dislike or distrust (need help? flag burners, welfare recipients, reactionary rednecks, politicians, rapists, child molesters, homeless, self-righteous, a religious sect, skin heads, taggers, gang members, kids who shoot kids, lawyers, teachers, doctors)
   
   
2. Genuinely try to see each group you named as they might see themselves. ( List adjectives)
   
   
3. If it is a group bound by a belief system, list some of the reasons they may have taken their stances. If it is an ethnic group with a common set of actions, try to find what their culture or language might do to set up the behaviors. Example: Navajo children are taught to be respectful by not making eye contact; the Spanish language is set up so that things happen rather than blaming people for accidents - milk spills.
   
   
4. Look for a continuum of beliefs in a group and identify with it. (Need help? religious affiliations, the NRA, Republicans, Animal Rights Groups, Green Peace, Democrats, Gay Rights Activists, Pro Choice groups, Pro Life groups)
   
   
5. What would you have to change in your life if you felt as this group feels?
   
   
6. What would they have to change to see life as you see it?
   
   
7. Can belief systems make people intolerant?
   
   
8. How would you begin the process of developing acceptance for this group of people?
   
   
9. How would you begin a conversation to help them see your life view?

5. Bring tolerance closer to home. What is it that your spouse, child, roommate, sister, father does that you just can't stand? Try going through the question list in #3 with respect to this set of behaviors.
6. Bring tolerance closer to the school. What is it that students do that drives you crazy? Try going through the question list in #3 with respect to this set of behaviors.

Is there one kind of student you don't want in your classroom? How about a youngster who can't hear? How about one who is nonresponsive? Are you worried about a child who has seizures? Are you intolerant of a kid who can't or won't sit still? What can you do to see the child you describe, from their point of view or as the parent see him or her?

Go on to Web Activity 1: Culturally Sensitive Issues in Space
or
Go back to Pensive Pat

E-mail J'Anne Ellsworth at Janne.Ellsworth@nau.edu

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