Reflection 6

Rites of passages are extremely important in our society. They validate certain points or stages in our life. An example is a birthday party. I consider this a rite of passage because it celebrates someone’s getting older, which signifies adulthood or old age. In many cultures, adulthood is a very important rite of passage. Another reason why rites of passages are important is because they help cultivate culture. I believe this because rite of passage is an important part of the different cultures that exist. Many cultures have different methods or ceremonies which accept someone or acknowledge the entrance into that culture. These ceremonies symbolize these rites of passage.
What I have learned by reading these articles suggest that every culture has rites of passage. It seems that an important staple in every culture is the transition into adulthood. This rite of passage seems to be especially important in every culture. Because cultures are very different, the transition into adulthood is different for every culture but each one is equally important. I found it very interesting how the Sambia tribe in New Guinea conducts the process for the rite of passage into adulthood. In a way, it is very similar to the rite of passage in the American culture. When a male begins puberty, he is beginning his journey into adulthood. The same is also considered for a female. I also found the article, Sitting Quietly, fascinating. The story of their passage into adulthood was interesting to hear because some of the boys did not make it into adulthood because they were eaten by the foresee monster. In many cultures, when you become a certain age you are considered an adult and you becoming that age is you rite of passage. These ages vary from culture to culture.
Rites of passage in education share a very important relationship. In every grade level there are certain benchmarks that you must meet in order to progress to the next grade level. As educators, it is our responsibility to make sure that you meet these qualifications. Also we must understand that there is going to be different cultures in our classroom and different learning styles in our classrooms. We must develop a curriculum that will satisfy the needs of every culture in our classroom. With this in mind we must have a classroom culture that will enable you to gain your rite of passage into the next grade level.