This school year, a new class was added to the curriculum: Cultures and Traditions.
Cultures and Traditions, like the name suggests, focuses on the cultures and traditions of places around the world.
“In Cultures and Traditions, we talk about different cultures, different traditions,” class teacher Veronica Skomra said. “Right now, we are talking about cultural foods, cultural norms and etiquette and how it’s different from the U.S.,” class teacher Veronica Skomra said.
According to Skomra, Cultures and Traditions adds diversity and understanding to the curriculum.
“It’s a great way for students to see beyond the borders of the U.S., and get that live setting for human culture around the world,” Skomra said. “It investigates the why behind human practices, examining the diverse ways people around the world celebrate, communicate, and find meaning. We explore different things, such as how, geography, history, religion, social structures and how they shape traditions, and how they define your identity. The course’s primary goals are to foster global awareness, develop critical thinking skills, challenge stereotypes and build empathy by understanding that the human experience connects us all.”
Skomra thinks students should take Cultures and Traditions because it teaches them about the differences between cultures and what makes them unique.
“It just opens their minds to different cultures and how different people live in different cultures. It’s bringing in that cultural awareness and understanding that what they do in their culture doesn’t mean that every other culture does the same thing.”
Students who are considering taking Cultures and Languages should take it if they’re interested in how different people around the globe live.
“There’s no prerequisite for this class,” Skomra said. “If you’re interested in learning about different ways of life around the world, and you’re interested in seeing how other people live. I think it’s a great class to take.”
Students who are currently taking Cultures and Traditions are enjoying the class.
“I think it [Cultures and Traditions] is a very cool and interesting class, and I get to learn about stuff that I don’t usually get to learn about in my other classes,” Theo Kessling said.
“I get to learn about the different cultures in different countries, and I plan to travel to different countries in the future so I have an understanding of them before I get to them,” Mya Cover said.
