Emily Bakken

10/4/17
ART 133
Professor Ward
Unit Paper #3

The Holistic Approach in education is the concept of changing the way that teachers

speak and communicate with students. Instead of automatically assuming the worst in students,

teachers should take their time to listen to the student. In the Holistic Approach, cultural

integrity of students is maintained through respecting diversity, creating inclusive environments,

and using multiple instructional approach and varied learning experiences that cross disciplines

and cultures (Eldridge, 2012, p.35). This approach should be implemented in low income

schools where students are especially vulnerable in regards to their their home lives and the

social situations that affect their day to day lives. Vulnerability is a major part of a childs life if

they come from a low income area. The Holistic Approach seeks to improve children's school

life by being teaching them about ...emotion, a deeper understanding of how we fit in and why

that matters (Pink, 2006, p. 115).

The Holistic Approach is crucial to all students, especially low income students, because

it connects the teacher and student in a deeper way. Showing compassion, listening to students,

and checking up on their home lives can help to change the relationship between the teacher and

student. Having worked in a lower income school once before, this ability to connect with

students during their most vulnerable moments helped shape my current view of teaching. Being

able to see where the children were most vulnerable helped me connect them to myself, and my

lessons were then able to help my students because I had a better understanding of their needs.

For example, history lessons where the majority of photos of heroes and historical figures are
white males, was not something the children could relate to, so I showed them photos of

minorities and women. It completely changed their perspective and allowed me to incorporate

art lessons into what we were studying. Holistic teaching enables us to better teach our students

to be empathetic and understanding of the world around them. It also teaches educators to better

understand their students.

 References

Eldridge, L. A. (2012). The ethic of caring holistically for art students: Esmeraldas boutique. In

L. H. Campbell & S. Simmons III (Eds.), The heart of education: Holistic approaches

(pp. 287-296). Reston, VA: National Art Education Association.

Pink, D. (2006). A whole new mind: Why right-brainers will rule the future. New York, NY: The

Berkeley Group.