Sleeter and Grant

As I was reading Sleeter and Grant and their views on single groups instead of comparing a bunch of groups, it made me think of one of my classes last year. Sleeter and Grant talk about emerssing yourself/ your students into other cultures; this way they can see the whole picture for what it is instead of comparing it to another culture. Last year, I took an Anthropology class and I got to experience this emersion. My class went to a Native American Pow Wow in Naperville. We spent the weekend there. While we were there, we got to see the seperate ceremony's, try their foods, browse through their stores/tents, and just watch the interaction among the Native Americans. It was really cool. I was a little nervous at first because I had no idea what to expect. It was a really neat experience because we got to participate in some of the dances they do during the ceremony. I got to talk to a Jingle-Bell dancer and ask her different questions pertaining to her heritage, the dance, and whatever I felt I needed to know to help describe my time there. I think it was one of the best ways to learn and experience another culture. It made so much more sense and left a bigger impact by being there instead of just listening to a professor lecture about it. We did do a little of that before, just so that we had some background knowledge. I know it is something I will never forget.