Learning Through Listening:
Cross Cultural Issues in Education


   In the course of one week a variety of individuals from Oregon State University managed to go from being rugged individualists to group members being able to form a consensus on some very tough issues.  The topic of education is the focus of much that we (Joe/Joan BagO'Donuts) see in the media, print, television, or otherwise.  For the whole of Spring Break '00, for myself especially, education became the focus, specifically on cross cultural education in Oregon.  Using a very non-traditional learning style, "listening" we were able to interview a variety of persons with true vested interest in the education process in Oregon, particularly African-American and Latino/Latina students. To anyone interested in thinking outside the box, this is a class and a learning process that will challenge you.

    If the national conversation concerning education has grown stale, I propose that a few of our influential statesmen in Washington and Salem look at education from the vantage point that our class has had.  In an interview format we talked with:

    The variety of topics and questions for the interviews were as varied as the members of our class.  Students ranged from undergrad to grad, from young to old.  As a facilitator for Anthony Veliz, school board member from Woodburn, Or, I felt honored to be given insight into a different educational community from what most of us may picture in our mind's eye.  Woodburn has a majority population of Latino/a students, followed by Russian students, then White students. By definition their curriculum must be reflective of the school's diversity, and bi-lingual teaching is the norm.  Also of note is that the school's lunch program is free for all students, reflecting the socio-economics of the Woodburn area.  Anthony did tell us of all these hurdles, but watching his enthusiasm when talking about their students, the feeling was clear that these areas are challenges to be overcome.


From L-R Stu Walker, Anthony Veliz, Tami Whitsett

    The particular impact of Anthony's interview on me was the idea that students must be given voice in education.  Open dialogue with the students best interest in mind is the key to finding ways to guide students to success in education.  Minority education in Oregon is a multi-faceted challenge that is not going to disappear. Population trends show that more rather than less students of color will be joining Oregon's education system. I hope that through this class we have not only increased our own awareness of the challenge ahead, but also made a larger impact on the officials we talked to and those we presented to.

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