About

This blog explores Teaching and Learning through a culturally relevant lens. In many ways, it is a critique of the contemporary idea known as “the achievement gap.” There are numerous hidden dangers in such a construct. First, how do we define it? (When youth of color get outscored on standardized tests, it feeds “the achievement gap.” When these same youth can score higher on a measure asking them about youth cultural language, neighborhood social politics, or other experiential knowledge, there is no achievement gap; there’s just kids being more familiar with their their cultural environments… perhaps, even having an unfair advantage… hmmmmm). Second, what happens when schools, communities, civic institutions, families, teachers, and students operate as if “the achievement gap” is a fixed (and insurmountable) reality? Finally, what is gained by closing the contemporary “Black-White achievement gap” when the top U.S. schools and students are only mediocre when compared on a global scale?

We believe that there is another side that must be explored. “The lion’s story will never be known as long as the hunter is the one tell it.”

Blogging began in Fall 2009 as a collective dialogue among the inaugural class of EDUC 245, Culturally Relevant Teaching, Learning, and Intervention, at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. This academically based community service seminar for Penn undergraduates serves as a reflective space for the teaching and outreach conducted by Ase Academy, a nonprofit cultural enrichment program for secondary school students, founded on Penn’s campus in 1999. Contributions will continue to come from EDUC 245 students in future semesters, as well as other Ase Academy / Lion’s Story voices, and collaborators in the culturally relevant educational movement.

Culturally relevant teaching and learning is pedagogy in action; it is where practice is informed by purpose, and theory moves beyond standards, toward empowerment. It is the means through which we continue being and becoming the change. We are glad that you visited, and look forward to continuing the dialogue. Ase!