An Introduction to Cultural Capital Retrieval and Prior Knowledge From the Cestrian Way Briefing: Introduction to Character – who has achieved a Generosity of Spirit on the Standards Card? Who has heard ‘character education’ lessons? Who has engaged in the web site opportunities? Who has started to complete their Character Benchmarks Certificate? We have this prior knowledge; we are retrieving our intentions. Cultural Capital helps you to be resourceful. Use your initiative and knowledge to find quick clever ways to find and improve answers / solutions. Cultural Capital helps you to be sophisticated. We are naturally curious. We search for ways to grow our depth and breadth of knowledge and experience. With this we are wise and our sophistication, our expertise is fundamental to making your life, society, and the world a better place. Cultural Capital Definitions The essential knowledge for educated citizens, introducing people to the best that has been thought and said, allowing an appreciation of human creativity and achievement. People, with a new level of self-motivation, can build upon this to seek out new experiences and respect the knowledge to ‘stand on the shoulders of giants’ in order to carve out new pathways of research, creativity, progress and solutions. "standing on the shoulders of giants" is a metaphor which means "using the understanding gained in the past to help make future progress”. In 1675, Isaac Newton said: "If I have seen further [than others], it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." I say, “The brilliance of each new generation means that the apprentice becomes the master and that is both an essential and comforting thing.” In Greek mythology the blind giant Orion carried his servant Cedalion on his shoulders to see for him. You and Cultural Capital Origins/ Foundations The Past Key Developments You – curious – passionate – purposeful – hard work New Frontiers / Next steps The Future Cultural capital is the beyond-the-textbook, maybe beyond-the-qualification but it is never beyond your passion and purpose. It is the knowledge, the touch stones on which generations can speak with each other. It is the cultural capital you need before you can take us further in the human race’s creativity and achievement… we can debate, lead, investigate, evaluate the issue, experiment, solve. Cultural Capital’s Cultural Capital Origins/ Foundations Matthew Arnold, 1867: "it is a study of perfection. It removes class boundaries to make the best that has been thought and known in the world current everywhere; to allow anyone and everyone to take us further”. New Frontiers / Next steps Click image for Cultural Capital Opportunities Michael Murpurgo, 2019: “Space to wander, play and explore. Teachers should create the conditions where pupils can flourish, discover, and develop. This can change lives, give something to look forward to: from curiosity to knowledge to a good book, a play, a piece of music, a visit to a museum, the countryside, experiencing different things – such moments are life affirming – they strengthen all of us, give us all hope and heart – a sense of wellbeing, of belonging.” Click image to send your reflection. This gets Cul Cap points Teachers may ask you to show your new knowledge in class. This gets Sophistication points.
