CHAPTER 3 LESSON 2Grace I. Mait

Multicultural Education:

A Challenge to Global Teachers

Confucius

“All men are pretty much alike. It is only by culture that they re

set apart.”

What is

“the values, traditions, social and worldview shared by a group of people bound together by a

combination of factors.” (Derman and Sparks)

Culture?

Diversity of Learners and

“the major goal of multicultural education is to transform the school so that the male and

female students, exceptional learners, as well as students coming from diverse cultural, social-class, racial and ethnic groups will receive an

equal opportunity to learn in school.” -James Banks

Multicultural Education

Students may differ in:

Race Ethnic or religious groups Economic status Languages spoken Family background Some could be stricken by poverty,

unemployment, relocations, etc.

In order to do this, we need:• Curricular and instructional modifications

• (Different) Teaching styles

• Re-examination of teachers’ attitudes, beliefs and perception

In the midst of this diversity, students are supposed to receive equal opportunities

to education.

This movement calledMULTICULTURAL EDUCATION

enables teachers and educators to give value to the differences in prior

knowledge, experiences of learners from diverse background and familiarity with students’ histories of diverse cultures.

(Haertel, 1998)

Goals ofMulticultural Education:

Develop and foster a democratic and just society where all groups experience cultural democracy and empowerment

Improve academic achievement of all students

Help the students to develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to function within their own and other micro cultures, and within global community

Provide opportunities to gain cultural competency

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How do we achieve these GOALS?

To achieve these goals, it is very important for teachers to be

knowledgeable about differences in cultures, religion, ethnicity, and even the

language spoken by the students.

Suggestions to understand multi-cultural learners: (Fraser-Abner, 2001)

• Learn as much about and become as sensitive to and aware of racial, ethnic, cultural and gender groups other than your own

• Never make assumptions about an individual based on their perception of that individual’s race, ethnicity, culture or gender

Suggestions to understand multi-cultural learners: (Fraser-Abner, 2001)

• Avoid stereotyping

• Get to know each student as a unique individual: Walk in the footsteps of all your students

Other suggestions include:• Look into your own conscious and subconscious biases

about the people who are different from yourselves

• Plan your activities within a multicultural framework while making your classroom a safe and secure place for all the students

• Infuse multicultural instructional materials and strategies in your teaching

• Foster collaboration and cooperation among your learners, parents and teachers

“a caring environment will always

enhance academic achievement.”