Culturally Pluralist Classroom

In order to be a teacher in a culturally pluralist classroom, it is important to have a clear understanding what is the concept of cultural pluralism. According to Timm (2016), the concept of cultural pluralism states that newcomers acculturate best by maintaining their unique cultural identities, values and practices provided they are not in conflict with the laws and values of the host society (as cited in Bernstein, 2015) As a teacher of a culturally pluralistic classroom, is imperative to understand Allport’s positive social contract theory and use it as a guideline when making instructional decisions and determining classroom management styles. Allport’s theory is that prejudice may be “reduced by equal status contact between the majority

The first basic condition and/or guideline for instruction decision is that contact should be sufficiently intimate to produce reciprocal knowledge and understanding between groups. We need to give students’ ample knowledge and instruction about the cultures and/or the groups within the classroom. Teachers’ must create instruction that dispels any negativity and/or stereotypes and create lessons that informs and celebrates these groups. An example would be if the two majority groups of students’ in the classroom is Caucasian and Hispanic, instruction may be needed to dispel stereotypes such as: every Hispanic who comes into the United States are illegals who come in the dead of the night in some sort of transport, they came to steal jobs, they want to live off “our system”, etc. It is also so important to teach the students about each other’s cultures and make them realize that they are more similar then different. They may eat different foods, celebrate different holidays, believe in different religions; however, they are the same when it comes to waning to learn, needing love and acceptance, etc. It is also important to promote dialogue and communication between the students’ through activities so they can teach each other about

In other words, no one is treated different because they are Hispanic, Caucasian, etc. Every student needs to be given the same opportunity, support, encouragement, etc. As teachers, we need to embrace every students’ uniqueness; however, we need to make sure it is done in a way that every student is treated with equal status. This can be done by making sure that the foundations of classroom management, instruction, rules, etc. is accessible and equal to every student. Some include: classroom rules apply to all students, punishment for breaking rules apply to all students, technology and basic school supplies are accessible for all students,