Social and Cultural Differences in Secondary Education - Essay Sample

Education is key to be able to unlock different potentials among students as well as be able to grasp opportunities that present themselves in life. In the process gaining knowledge, students get to interact with others and in the long run they get to showcase differences in an array of ways (Fokkema, & Haas, 2015). Secondary school is a higher stage in education whereby students clearly understand what is going on and their sources of influence in a way. Culture is the adaptation to circumstances and transmission of the learned skills and knowledge to following and subsequent generations (Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014). Social and cultural differences tend to crop up in the process of learning and interaction with peers, in the classroom, from teachers, religious leaders and friends. Different ideologies are input in students thus making more conspicuous to see the differences in the socio-cultural differences, these range from ethnic, racial that is skin color, based on the community.

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In the education sector there are many aspects that are in play. Individuals from diverse background get to come together with the aim of gaining knowledge and skills. From a young age students tend to have the desire to be able to explore around beyond their familiar grounds as well as the educational sphere (Fokkema, & Haas, 2015). Students tend to get influenced by an array of elements in their lives. For instance, when young they were under the care of parents and guardians thus did not have much to say of what appertains their choices. As time went by, parents started losing their ability to influence the childrens choices and way of life. When in school teachers, fellow students and friends tend to become the major sources of influence to a student. In another way religious leaders, textbooks also have a way of making students to behave in a certain way (Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014).

Many a time we have down played the issues of social and cultural differences among students. This is because without putting into consideration that most if not all the students undertaking secondary education, come from different backgrounds meaning they do not share cultures and are socially affiliated to different groups. In a school setting students possess differences such as gender, race, ethnic background and communities among others (Fokkema, & Haas, 2015). These particular differences are what makes students in every school setting. There is need for tolerance especially for groups of students from backgrounds with an association of violence. Students are in process of learning and grasping some of the skills and getting a better understanding of what is revolving around them.

Despite all these differences being brought forward as the learning process takes place in the secondary education, students are encouraged to think beyond their unique cultural and social differences (Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014). Their curiosity is sparked in order to bring out more positivity in terms of exploration, individual and group growth, innovation is key in todays world, to have self-drive, to be able to solve cropping challenges and in the process tolerance is also nurtured resulting to learning and appreciation of other students cultures and social settings (Baker, 2016). On many occasions students just like the rest of the population feel comfortable in a surrounding with students with similar ideas and share common knowledge. Today the students are able to look beyond what they know, through curiosity they go further to discover what is beyond the foreseen cultural differences making them more independent thus improving interaction.

The social and cultural differences have presented an opportunity for all students to learn the art of communication early without discrimination (Baker, 2016). With the trend of globalization whereby the world is becoming one village that people from all walks of life get to interact freely, students too get to feel the phenomenon.

New students from across borders get enrolled in different secondary schools, this increases the chances of experiencing the differences fore mentioned among the students. It is imperative for all students undergoing secondary education to develop an understanding as well as respect the socio-cultural aspects of those with a different set of elements not familiar to them in order to learn efficiently and effectively (Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014). The tutors of secondary education to come up with and implement strategies for the learning process to help students develop an early understanding of the benefit of having cultural and social differences in school.

Culture has a way of impacting peoples relations in an array of ways. If not well understood, it can foster the development of relation issues (Ghosh, & Galczynski, 2014). Among students ethnicity, race, communities from which other students come from should not bring up issues that make learning a problem this should be seen as an opportunity to be able to learn first-hand what they entail. When taken from a positive perspective it helps develop problem-solving skills, sharing of ideas, tolerance among students, better communication skills (Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014). One aspect that students need to understand is, these set of differences is what makes the world. Culture is what makes everyone unique it presents adverse ways in which they can see the world. Without cultures and social settings learning would be a routine thus making it just theoretical, but with these differences they get experience first-hand how it feels and engage with students from a different area.

Change is good, be it in a school setting or global and thus is part and parcel of our daily lives. In all aspects and activities undertaken by every person in one way or the other culture tends to crop up (Baker, 2016). Being able to manage the differences in a skillful manner is what is of importance, as it leads to better leadership among students, and managing conflict resolution. In the secondary education, the curriculum needs to put lessons of how all students can be interculturally competent.

It entails the issues of knowledge competency, whereby a student is equipped with knowledge of themselves as well as other cultures from around the world. Second, being skill competent, in that a student develops a better understanding, effective listening, being respectful and accuracy in the interpretation of meanings. Lastly, attitudinal component this aspect enables students to develop a global mindset and makes an individual understand there are different perspectives to look at things and not have the belief their way is the best or the only way.

Being open minded helps understanding other individual, this should be encouraged in the education sector. We are individually unique as two people are never exactly the same but, students need to understand that all people to some extent share some common aspects (Leonard, 2015).

. This is the cultural aspect we, as the human race share universally. Culture is learned, this is on the basis of ones early childhood experiences that have a lasting impact on an individuals personality. Culture is the driving force behind how people behave the way they do, students from diverse cultures may in a way clash because they do not understand each other on a cultural level (Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014). Culture impacts student behavior and morale, it is the pillar stone behind some values, attitudes and actions showcased by students in secondary school. The fact that culture is dynamic, gives teachers in the secondary education, an opportunity to teach students better ways of interacting and doing things and also have a better understanding of the impacts of cultures (Ghosh, & Galczynski, 2014).

Students are well positioned to learn and have a better understanding of culture and social differences and the impact they can have if not handled in a civil manner. For instance, in the business world cultural due diligence has an important place in as much today it has been down played (Arnett, 2014). For global leaders it is important to fully understand each regional culture as this will help one in achieving the goals one intends. Students too have the opportunity to be able to learn and later on in life implement in the various fields they would be interested in.

Cultural and social aspects have to be well understood among students, such as ethnic, racial, gender and community. Under culture the following proponents play an important role. Communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal are interlinked in ones cultural setting, having an understanding of how it works enables one to foster a good relationship with others (Fokkema, & Haas, 2015). Self-sense and space, culture allows an individual to express themselves in a way they are comfortable. Relationships also differ with cultures, this is clearly seen in the way different genders interrelate. In some cultures women and girls are subordinate to men while others all genders are equal whereas others women are seen as superior (Arnett, 2014). This outline dictates how relationships work. In the class setting students need to know everyone is equal thus respect is paramount. Values and norms are an aspect that affects how people view each other and relate. Behaviors of different students are determined by the norms set by their cultures and social settings in which they grew up in (Leonard, 2015).

Socio-cultural differences are what makes us who we are. In the school setting students get to come across peers, fellow students and teachers who showcase a different culture, this does not signify they are wrong it shows there is more to life than ones own culture. Embracing and appreciating the differences is what matters most thus empowering each one of the students. Developing a better understanding of how the world works is essential for the survival of people, globalization has made it possible to accept and interact with people from diverse cultures including students.

References

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