Blog 5: Multicultural Education

Blog # 5: Multicultural Education

The article I read was on the Sesame Workshop website. The title of the article was “Galli Galli Sim Sim”: A Lion and a Little Girl speak to India’s Children. This article describes one of the many examples of the Sesame Workshop efforts to develop a television show for a specific country that is directed at children. It provides academic, social, and cultural education. A team of educators, media specialists, educational consultants, Turner broadcasting, and the Sesame Workshop worked together to develop this show for children in India. India is a large country with a lot of different cultures so it was important for the show to incorporate cultural education. The group decided to focus on “whole child” education rather than focusing on only one objective. They also wanted to focus on respect for others regardless of cultural, social, economic, and language differences, and to develop bridges between the cultures.

It features characters that appreciates and celebrates their own culture while also having a natural curiosity and appreciation for other cultures. Boombah is a curious lion and Chamki is an intelligent multilingual girl who is dressed in a typical uniform. The show’s creators hopes Chamki’s character will help to motivate young India girls and close the educational gap between boys and girls.

The show is publicly broadcast. It is usually shown in daycares\preschools. For children that do not have access to television, the Sesame Workshop has provided portable TVs on vegetable carts.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Sesame Street. But I do remember it having a lot of different characters that represented a lot of different cultures. I’m not sure if the diversity on the TV show helped me have an appreciation for other cultures. But I do remember I learned some academic lessons. For example, there is a song that I will never forget that counted to the number twelve. I remember counting Cookie Monster’s cookies. I remember each episode having a daily letter, and trying to point out each time that letter was called out in the show. I remember the song “One of these things” and being able to point out the differences between objects.

In my opinion Sesame Street, and other educational shows have a positive academic impact on children. I think the cultural impact may be marginal. I believe families and friends have their bigger impact on cultural education. In schools students still group themselves with others who look and act like them. This makes me believe multicultural education starts at home. Unless parents instill and demonstrate an appreciation and respect for other cultures then outside influences such as schools and television will not have a lasting impact.