Multicultural Education Cultural Bio Poems Summer 2004

One aspect of Multicultural Education is the opportunity to reflect on our own cultural background. We assume that we learn our ethnic identity from our society, our community, our family, our religion, and our language. Often we take these for granted and are not aware that these facets of our personality vary from the individual to the group.

One way to take an objective look at our ethnicity is through reflection. Students in CIED 5052 have volunteered to post their cultural bio poems in the Reading Room. You are invited to find the commonalities that unite us as a culture.

Donna

The first name is Donna; meaning woman,
Who's maiden name is Hogan; meaning tower,
Which originated in Ireland with the spelling of O'Hogain,
Landed in America and spread from Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas, Who's great-great grandfather was a running buddy of Daniel Boone,
Who values love, marriage, children, education, animals, and nature,
Who believes everyone can obtain an education, stability, happiness, and love because every kettle has a lid,
Who speaks English,
Who feels overwhelmed at times,
Who is a member of the Who's Who's, the National Education Association, and working on being a member of Honor Societies,
Whose family traditions include love marriage and closeness all year long,
Who participates in as many educational functions as she can,
Who enjoys her family, friends, animals, and sitting on the deck listening to nature,
And whose last name is Hogan-DeLaPorte,
Where DeLaPorte means of-the-door in French,
Making me the "woman tower of-the-door."

Hogan-DeLaPorte

Sara

Family originated from Greece
Who values honesty and integrity
Who believes in friendship
Who speaks the truth
Who feels love, comfort, and compassion for others
Who is a member of a large family
Who feels most comfortable around the ones who love me
Whose family traditions include eating, drinking, and dancing
Who participates in sports activities
Who enjoys planning a wedding
Who is happy when surrounded by friends and family

Stathakis

Jessica

Family originated from the great unknown and Europe
A resident of Fayetteville, Greenwood, and Little Rock
Who values hard work and good friends
Who believes in the healing power of chocolate
Who speaks English and occasionally Pig Latin
Who feels a strong desire to be finished with school
Who is a member of the Baptist church
Who feels most comfortable when with my husband
Whose family traditions include canasta, huge meals, and homemade ice cream
Who participates in life
Who enjoys sleeping in late on Saturdays
Who is happy when it rains

Clark

Leandra

Whose family originates from Germany, Scotland, and the Cherokee Indian Tribes of Oklahoma
Who values knowledge
Who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ
Who speaks the Truth of God
Who feels pain through life's trials
Who is a member of AAHPERD
Who feels comfortable when there is at least one person in the room she knows
Whose family traditions include opening one gift on Christmas Eve
Who participates in volunteer coaching
Who enjoys spending time with her husband and son
Who is happy when the occasion arises

Cleveland

Amy

Who is a resident of Fayetteville and Conway, Arkansas
Who values friends, family and free time
Who believes in God, love, and that calories don't count on holidays
Who speaks softly and a lot
Who feels hungry most of the time
Who is a member of a wonderful family
Who feels most comfortable in my pajamas
Whose family traditions include a big Christmas program, big meals with lots of desert and being together as much as possible
Who enjoys eating, sleeping, laughing, and traveling
Who is happy being with the people I love

Duncan

Susan

Whose family originated from Germany and England,
Who values family time and a comfortable home,
Who believes in the motto: "Your life is what you make it",
Who speaks up when I have something important to say,
Who feels lucky to have met the man who became my husband,
Who is a member of the baby boomer generation,
Who feels most comfortable when at home,
Whose family traditions always include a pot luck meal at get-togethers,
Who participates in my grown children's lives,
Who enjoys creating with needle and thread,
Who is happy when I have some quiet time,

Hinton

Alison

Family originated from… Germany and South Arkansas
Who is a resident of… Fayetteville, Arkansas
Who values… Quiet time for reflection
Who believes… Pets (dogs and cats) should be spayed and neutered to avoid overpopulation
Who speaks… Honestly
Who feels… Ignorance is harmful to humans and animals
Who is a member of… NAWGJ (National Association of Women's Gymnastics Judges)
Who feels most comfortable when… Petting an animal
Whose family traditions include… Lunch at Red Lobster on Valentine's Day
Who participates in… Gymnastics related events
Who enjoys… Working in my yard
Who is happy when… Spending time with my husband
Who wants… My husband to come home safely from Iraq

Bradley

Ben

My family originated from Germany
Who values family and friends
Who believes in integrity and honesty
Who speaks English
Who feels that you should live everyday like its your last
Who is a member of Trout Unlimited
Who feels most comfortable when I am around friends
Who participates in golf and fly fishing
Who enjoys reading
Who is happy when I get to spend time with my family and girlfriend

Lewis

Laura

family originated from Scotland
who values people
who believes in the power of prayer
who speaks with a slight southern accent
who feels eager to gain the responsibility of teaching
who is a member of First Baptist Church, Springdale
who feels most comfortable when snuggled up on the couch with a good cup of coffee and a chick flick
whose family traditions include pancakes on Saturday mornings
who participates in the choir
who enjoys rainy Sunday afternoons
who is happy when she can lay by the pool and read

Johnston

P. J.

Family originated from Germany
Who values a strong and close family bond
Who believes in the saying, "what goes around, comes around" (so be nice)
Who speaks upfront and honestly to everyone
Who feels like I wasted a day if I sleep in past 9:30
Who is a member of the Razorback Track and Field Team (39 NCAA Championships)
Who feels most comfortable sitting in a tree stand while deer hunting
Whose family traditions include going to church every Sunday (I'm Catholic)
Who participates in sports, hunting, fishing and camping
Who enjoys working hard and going to rodeos
Who is happy when everyone else is happy

Brown

Katie

Mother's side originated from Norway, Father's side from England and Ireland
Who values true friendships
Who believes in seeing the glass half-full
Who speaks her mind often
Who feels that her vote does count
Who is a member of Central United Methodist Church
Who feels most comfortable when she's around the people she loves
Whose family traditions include Bar-B-Qs and late night games of Castle Risk
Who contributes advice when needed
Who enjoys dancing, singing and drawing
Who is happy when all arguments have been settled
Who is a resident of Fayetteville, AR

Newberry

Nicole

Family originated from... Germany
Who Values... friends and family
Who believes... in God
Who speaks... their mind
Who feels... blessed
Who is a member of... Lady Back softball team and Lakewood church
Who feels most comfortable when... with the family
Who family traditions include... spending time with each other around holidays
Who participates... in sports
Who enjoys... spending time with family and friends
Who is happy when... in TEXAS

Deeter

Sarah-Catherine

Family resides in Conway, Arkansas
Who values quality time with family and friends
Who believes that every child is a miracle
Who speaks all the time
Who feels extremely blessed
Who is a member of the Church of Pinnacle Hills
Who feels most comfortable in warm weather
Whose family traditions include spending time with the WHOLE family on EVERY holiday
Who participates in Intramurals
Who enjoys attending Razorback events
Who loves being on the beach
Who is happy when eating ice cream and watching movies

Wilcox

*This is the next step toward THE One World Language.
Step Seven: *Your heroic couplets on the fruited plane!

Planet Gnosis is ruled by Freddie A. Bowles, a professional educator and fellow at the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. An independent entity in the CornDancer consortium of planets, Planet Gnosis is dedicated to the exploration of education and teaching. CornDancer is a developmental website for the mind and spirit maintained by webmistress Freddie A. Bowles of the Planet Earth. Submissions are invited.

Commonalities in Diversity.