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August 15, 2005
A R.U.L.E.R. to Help Cross the Cultural Divide
Few people would argue the central role of media in the lives of today’s students. With shouts of, “Whuddup dawg” or, “Dude” and “You da’ bomb”…. English teachers are shuddering at the vernacular used in today’s school hallways. There has always been a bit of a language barrier between the generations; but today, it seems more like a contrived language fort built by students to confound adults.
Ironically, one of the typical marks of adolescence is a desire to be understood by someone who is able to relate to their lives……Hollywood and MTV are always ready with a listening ear. Young people become easily enamored by pop music artists and actors who seem to share in their struggle for identity. Right or wrong, today’s often struggling, vulnerable teen identifies with the language of today’s media, music and pop culture, which often meets them right in the midst of their struggles for identity.
Today’s high-tech world has the ability to assault students with enormous amounts of information (and often misinformation) that is not always filtered by a discerning ear before reaching the minds of students. Todd Gitlin, a professor of journalism and sociology at Columbia University, calls this assault, the media torrent or hyper-media, in his book, Media Unlimited: How the Torrent of Images and Sounds Overwhelms Our Lives.
Educators certainly understand the relationship between repetition and learning. According to the latest Kaiser Family Foundation report, the average teen spends more than six hours a day exposed to this super saturation of media material. That is a heavy dose of repetitive exposure to messages from various media producers that propagate the idea, “You should be miserable and completely dissatisfied with your present lifestyle”.
Noted author and essayist GK Chesterton once quipped, “An open mind like an open mouth does have a purpose, and that is to close down upon something solid; otherwise, it could become like a city sewer that rejects absolutely nothing.” Students need someone who can help them sort out the torrent of media information with a critical mindset. As teachers and parents, we can help them if we understand them. The acronym R.U.L.E.R. may help you to “cross the cultural divide” and meet your students right where they are.
RECOGNIZE- Popular youth culture (i.e. music, advertising, movies, TV) has a profound influence on the way students think, act, spend their resources and relate to their peers, teachers, families and environment.
Things certainly aren’t the way they used to be; but it is up to adults to make cultural adjustments and then to hold students accountable.
UNDERSTAND- There is a natural, generational “cultural divide” and resulting language barrier that exists between adult and adolescent culture.
You will probably never comprehensively understand their culture; but you can understand and identify with their desire for individuality.
LISTEN- While it is difficult for adults to communicate within the context of popular youth culture, it is often impossible for an adolescent to communicate in adult culture because of a modicum of life experience.
We hear students with our ears; but it requires an open mind to listen to students and their struggles.
EVALUATE- In order for us parents and educators to maximize our relationships with young people and effectively communicate across that “cultural divide”, we must learn to understand and interpret the language and environment of today’s popular youth culture and meet young people “right where they are”.
Consider spending some time watching the shows and listening to the music of your students in order to let them know that you are willing to take the time to understand them and the culture that they live in
RESPOND- True Character is forged out on the anvil of relationships that are based on truth, trust, and a personal willingness to seek the highest and best interest of others.
Our response to this generation is crucial. It is wise for us as educators to maintain a personal inventory of our initial vision as educators, and what our goals are for ourselves and the students we have the privilege to serve, both inside and outside the classroom.
George can be reached for student, parent and educator programs at:
American Center for Character and Cultural Education
info@straightroads.org
www.straightroads.org
1600 Laurel Rd
Ambridge PA 15003
Posted by GeorgeP at 12:17 AM | Comments (0)