Oak Park High School is an incredibly diverse school filled with students from a variety of backgrounds, each with unique traditions and celebrations.. Just take a look at the demographics from U.S. News.
In such a school, it is important to appreciate different cultures. This allows students to feel seen and heard in their heritage, as well as provide them with a better understanding of other cultures and therefore the world. Here are some of the activities that can be done to increase cultural awareness:
- Sampling cultural foods.
It’s no secret that food is one of the most important aspects of any culture. Every country has their own delicacies, and many holidays are centered around enjoying certain foods.
Last year, during Lunar New Year, a group of parents and students came together to organize activities and food on the Great Lawn. Spring rolls, dumplings, sesame balls and more were offered, made by the parents. Within minutes, students had swarmed all the food and left behind nothing but clean plates.
It’s also no secret that students love good food, especially when it is homemade. It’s also exciting to try new things, and through cultural feasts like these students can discover future favorite dishes that they would have never tried otherwise.
- Cultural activities.
What exactly are these activities? Well, something like a multicultural fair is a perfect opportunity for students to share their culture. Students can once again bring in food, as well as games and crafts.
Students can also set up their own stalls, whether out on campus or within their classrooms, to teach their peers how to play games and make all kinds of trinkets. At the end of the day, students return home with new skills and creations.
The Wellness Center also organizes cultural events. The Grassroots Club and Ms. Hernandez previously held a Mi Herencia Presentation and Performance at lunch on Oct. 4. Be sure to check out the Wellness Calendar if you want to be know when they happen
- Consuming media from different countries.
It’s easy for students to only consume movies, shows, books and more from the United States. But, in doing so, they miss out on appreciating great works from all over the world.
Not only does this help with cultural understanding and awareness, but it also exposes students to themes and ideas that are not as present in American media. Different cultures have different values and express their own sets of ideas that can be eye-opening to those who have only known American ideals.
Foreign films and shows are usually accessible and enjoyable ways to watch foreign media. From Bollywood to Studio Ghibli, there is something for everyone. In the language classes at OPHS, students may be introduced to movies in the language they are learning. This is highly beneficial and should be encouraged in other classes as well.
“Foreign films teach you a new language, but it’s not the language you think. It’s the language of cinema,” writer Vera Blasi said. “In an increasingly homogenized world, foreign films tend to focus more on human drama.”
- Culture days.
While OPHS has celebrated many cultural holidays, usually with the leadership of students and parents, it has yet to host a full-on culture day. A culture day would be an entire day devoted to the school community’s diverse population.
Students and teachers can dress up in their cultural wear and even present their culture through performances involving dance and music. Families can also get involved by bringing in cultural foods. The school could even invite guest speakers to discuss their culture and unique experiences as a result of it.
This sort of whole-day affair also provides students with a much-needed break from the monotony of an average school week. And though it may seem like simple fun, a culture day is its own type of education. Students need to enter adulthood not only with skills in math and English, but also knowing and respecting the world and people around them.
Overall, cultural awareness can have many benefits for students. Drexel University states that promoting diversity in school can make students more empathetic, help them gain a better understanding of people and lessons, make them more open-minded, help students feel more confident and safe and prepare them for the diverse workplace.
OPHS has already been taking steps towards this with the new Ethnic Studies course coming into curriculum next school year. However, what can be done outside of the classroom to encourage students to be culturally aware is just as important as what is done in the classroom.
