Moving Beyond Western Middle Class Cirriculum

Learning in, through or about art changes when we move beyond standard, Western European based, middle class curriculum in the following ways:

• We become perceptive of other cultures and art can become more diverse, colourful and cultural.
• We become perceptive of each student's special gifts and needs and our lessons will be more accessible to all learners.
• From a new view on art we are opened to new possibilities for materials and subject matter in art.
• Through art we can learn about other circular areas or interests outside of the traditional western ideas.

This brings up central issues for educators:

• We must always assume we do not know as much as we think we do. This reminds us to be constantly looking for different perspective on our student's and what we teach.
• We should be well educated in all cultures and not confine our thinking to only one cultural pedagogy.
• Special cases in education remind us that not every student is the same and such, our teaching should be as flexible, responsive and varied as the student's needs.