The HeArt of Decolonizing Education

Abstract

Inclusive classrooms are at the heart of an inclusive school culture and positively impact the wider community. Western Eurocentric curricula and pedagogies were founded on colonial ideologies and principles that continue to center Western Eurocentric knowledge as superior. Through opening to decolonizing ways of knowing and being, educators can help create classrooms that strengthen student voice, choice, creativity, and agency; such spaces foster innovation and trust, allowing both students and educators to flourish. Arts-based pedagogies, which are accessible to all educators, help decolonize praxis by fostering attention, discovery, and connection; the interplay of these interconnected domains leads to the creation of more inclusive social environments, which support individual and collective well-being. Employing arts-based pedagogies does not require educators to teach arts-specific skills but encourages a shift towards open-hearted and open-minded practices that widen perspectives and cultivate a deeper sense of belonging.