A spirit of inquiry allows us to see people as individuals as well as part of a community. It's a product of people's ingenuity. Therefore no culture is exotic. Teaching should focus on similarities in human experience. Motoko achieves this by relating Japanese festivals to students' experiences.
Students learn about Japanese culture while exploring their own lives and discovering similarities.
Multicultural programming involves research, planning and commitment. Eshu Bumpus, an African and African American folklorist, suggests that teachers begin by defining terms. For example, Native American cultural practices vary by region and tribe. In Marblehead, teachers set aside planning time to review resources and exchange ideas. Teacher involvement is critical to an artist's presentation in the classroom.