Cultural Understanding Into Schools Now!
As a result of en international business structure, outsourcing of services, import/export of labour and not least immigration and emigration, we now have a society where persons with different cultural backgrounds has more and more to do with each other.
Unfortunately, this has proved to be something of a problem, and we've ended up with phenomenons such as racism, discrimination and prejudice. Phenomenons we have a responsibility in fighting.
Unfortunately, this has proved to be something of a problem, and we've ended up with phenomenons such as racism, discrimination and prejudice. Phenomenons we have a responsibility in fighting.
Take a look at the differences between the two leading media providers in the Iraq-conflict, CNN and alJazeera, for instance. These two stand on opposite sides of the conflict, and there are clear differences in the way these media providers cover the conflict within the region. Audhild Gregoriusdotter Rotevatn, news editor at the Norwegian radio channel Kanal24, explains the differences between CNN and alJazeera, saying that the reporters at the two channels look at the world through different “cultural glasses”.
Its in these cultural glasses I believe the key to the prejudice, racism and discrimination lays.
Ethnical Norwegians have a tendency to look at immigrants and asylum seekers, and their culture through our own cultural glasses. Through these glasses we see these other cultures that we don't recognize, and that don't fit with our image of a 'typical Norwegian', while the immigrants look at us and our culture through their glasses in the same way, and you end up with a conflict. It's now time to clear our glasses, and get a better understanding of culture.
We're just getting started on this. In Dept. of Justice, report suggestion 4 - “Preventing of racism and discrimination in the Police” its stated that the Police whish to educate their employees in understanding of culture. Immigrants are also to receive education in Norwegian culture, and understanding of such. All of this is small steps in the right direction. But still I tend to look at it as necessary to get cultural understanding and acceptance into schools, as an individual subject on jr. high school. A subject where all the major cultures are equally represented. The subject will be connected to social studies, history and religion, but it's still important that the subject does not get too attached to religion, to prevent mixing the two.
The meaning of cultural understanding in school is not to teach the pupils more about their own culture - an area already covered by other subjects in school, but about other cultures. There's no doubt that understanding and tolerance is closely connected. I therefore feel that this is a subject that should be put on the political agenda as soon as possible. Not only should cultural understanding enter schools, but there should also be education at workplaces, political parties, government, health and social services, elderly and to regular people. Especially in our media controlled society of 2005, where the media has a tendency to put a negative focus on immigrants in regards to crime, is it important to have a good understanding of these immigrants' cultural background in order to create a certain balance.
We're on our way to a society with increased fear, violence and racism it the trend is not turned. By introducing cultural understanding in the Norwegian school system, we remove much of the foundation for discrimination and racism. We then contribute to building a warmer society built on mutual respect and tolerance. --------
Its in these cultural glasses I believe the key to the prejudice, racism and discrimination lays.
Ethnical Norwegians have a tendency to look at immigrants and asylum seekers, and their culture through our own cultural glasses. Through these glasses we see these other cultures that we don't recognize, and that don't fit with our image of a 'typical Norwegian', while the immigrants look at us and our culture through their glasses in the same way, and you end up with a conflict. It's now time to clear our glasses, and get a better understanding of culture.
We're just getting started on this. In Dept. of Justice, report suggestion 4 - “Preventing of racism and discrimination in the Police” its stated that the Police whish to educate their employees in understanding of culture. Immigrants are also to receive education in Norwegian culture, and understanding of such. All of this is small steps in the right direction. But still I tend to look at it as necessary to get cultural understanding and acceptance into schools, as an individual subject on jr. high school. A subject where all the major cultures are equally represented. The subject will be connected to social studies, history and religion, but it's still important that the subject does not get too attached to religion, to prevent mixing the two.
The meaning of cultural understanding in school is not to teach the pupils more about their own culture - an area already covered by other subjects in school, but about other cultures. There's no doubt that understanding and tolerance is closely connected. I therefore feel that this is a subject that should be put on the political agenda as soon as possible. Not only should cultural understanding enter schools, but there should also be education at workplaces, political parties, government, health and social services, elderly and to regular people. Especially in our media controlled society of 2005, where the media has a tendency to put a negative focus on immigrants in regards to crime, is it important to have a good understanding of these immigrants' cultural background in order to create a certain balance.
We're on our way to a society with increased fear, violence and racism it the trend is not turned. By introducing cultural understanding in the Norwegian school system, we remove much of the foundation for discrimination and racism. We then contribute to building a warmer society built on mutual respect and tolerance. --------
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