| America has always been referred to as a melting | | | | Most curriculums also focus more on North America |
| pot, but ideally, it's a place where we strive to invite | | | | and Europe than any other region. Most students have |
| everyone to celebrate exactly who they | | | | learned about genocide through stories of the |
| are. As the US population is becoming increasingly | | | | Holocaust, but do they know that hundreds of |
| diverse and technology makes the world feel | | | | thousands of people are being killed in places like |
| increasingly smaller, it is time to make every classroom | | | | Darfur and Rwanda? Despite our close proximity to |
| a multicultural classroom. | | | | Latin America, American schools typically spend little |
| What is Multicultural Education? | | | | time reading Latin American literature or learning about |
| Multicultural education is more than celebrating Cinco | | | | the culture and history? |
| de Mayo with tacos and piñatas or reading the latest | | | | Thus, multicultural education is most successful when |
| biography of Martin Luther King Jr. It is an educational | | | | implemented as a schoolwide approach with |
| movement built on basic American values such as | | | | reconstruction of not only curriculum, but also |
| freedom, justice, opportunity, and equality. It is a set of | | | | organizational and institutional policy. |
| strategies aimed to address the diverse challenges | | | | Unfortunately most educational institutions are not |
| experienced by rapidly changing U.S. demographics. | | | | prepared to implement multicultural education in their |
| And it is a beginning step to shifting the balance of | | | | classrooms. Multicultural education requires a staff |
| power and privilege within the education system. | | | | that is not only diverse, but also culturally |
| The goals of multicultural education include: | | | | competent. Educators must be aware, responsive |
| Creating a safe, accepting and successful learning | | | | and embracing of the diverse beliefs, perspectives and |
| environment for all | | | | experiences. They must also be willing and ready to |
| Increasing awareness of global issues | | | | address issues of controversy. These issues include, |
| Strengthening cultural consciousness | | | | but are not limited to, racism, sexism, religious |
| Strengthening intercultural awareness | | | | intolerance, classism, ageism, etc. |
| Teaching students that there are multiple historical | | | | What You Can Do in Your Classroom |
| perspectives | | | | Just because we’re facing an uphill battle |
| Encouraging critical thinking | | | | doesn’t mean we shouldn't take those first steps. |
| Preventing prejudice and discrimination | | | | To integrate multicultural education in your classroom |
| Advantages of Multicultural Education | | | | and your school, you can: |
| According to the National Association for Multicultural | | | | Integrate a diverse reading list that demonstrates the |
| Education (NAME), multicultural education: | | | | universal human experience across cultures |
| Helps students develop positive self-image. | | | | Encourage community participation and social activism |
| Offers students an equitable educational opportunity. | | | | Go beyond the textbook |
| Allows multiple perspectives and ways of thinking. | | | | By supplementing your curriculum with current events |
| Combats stereotypes and prejudicial behavior. | | | | and news stories outside the textbook, you can draw |
| Teaches students to critique society in the interest of | | | | parallels between the distant experiences of the past |
| social justice. | | | | and the world today. |
| Road Blocks to Implementing Multicultural Education | | | | Creating multicultural projects that require students to |
| Contrary to popular belief, multicultural education is | | | | choose a background outside of their own |
| more than cultural awareness, but rather an initiative to | | | | Suggest that your school host an in-service |
| encompass all under-represented groups (people of | | | | professional development on multi-cultural education in |
| color, women, people with disabilities, etc) and to | | | | the classroom |
| ensure curriculum and content including such groups is | | | | Favorite Lessons in Multicultural Education |
| accurate and complete. | | | | Analyze issues of racism through pop culture. |
| Unfortunately, multicultural education is not as easy as | | | | Example: Study the affects of WWII for Japanese |
| a yearly heritage celebration or supplemental unit here | | | | Americans through political cartoons, movies, |
| and there. Rather, it requires schools to reform | | | | photography, etc. |
| traditional curriculum. | | | | Analyze issues of socioeconomic class through |
| Too often, students are misinformed and | | | | planning and development. |
| misguided. Not all textbooks present historical content | | | | Example: Design a development project with solutions |
| fully and accurately. For instance, Christopher | | | | to the needs of those living in poverty stricken |
| Columbus is celebrated as the American hero who | | | | communities. |
| discovered America. This take on history completely | | | | Analyze issues of sexism through media. |
| ignores the pre-European history of Native Americans | | | | Example: Make a scrapbook of stereotypical |
| and the devastation that colonization had on them. | | | | portrayals of both men and women. Compare both |
| Some history books are being revised, but often, | | | | positive and negative stereotypes and determine the |
| it’s much easier to teach that “In 1492, Columbus | | | | struggles they face as a result of these stereotypes. |
| sailed the ocean blue.” | | | | |