Understanding World Views

01/03/2006

One needs something to believe in, something for which one can have whole-hearted enthusiasm. One needs to feel that one's life has meaning, that one is needed in this world.
Hannah Senesh

In an article, “The World at Your Door: Working with Culturally Diverse Children,” in High/Scope Extensions (November/December 2005; www.highscope.org), Polly Neill observes…

“While it is imperative that we avoid oversimplifying something as complex as human behavior, anthropologists, educators, and sociologists believe that the majority of the world’s cultures may be categorized either as individualist/independent or collectivistic/interdependent . . . . These differing views can have a profound effect on how we as educators respond to children from cultures other than our own. Examining these [differences] can help us work more effectively with both children and parents.”

The following list of characteristics from the Neill article illustrate some of the differences between the two world views:

Collectivism/Interdependence

Promotes group consensus and success, adherence to norms, respect for authority/elders, and hierarchical roles
Emphasizes criticism (to achieve normative behavior), social skills, and listening to authority
Sees socialization as a part of teacher’s role

Individualism/Interdependence

Promotes individual achievement, self-expression, personal choice, and flexibility in roles (such as upward mobility)
Emphasizes praise (to promote self-esteem), cognitive skills, and oral expression
Views teaching as part of the parent’s role

For a deep immersion in 700 world views, plan on attending the 2007 World Forum on Early Care and Education in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Check out the preliminary details at http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wf2007/

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