What is diversity? How do you define it, and do you believe that children can learn to accept it? Living in America as a first generation American, it seems that I was competing to gain the acceptance and understanding of other children of my age growing up. No child aims to be a bully or get bullied. They often find themselves unappreciated or deemed different from others that often leads to an outburst. All of this can be prevented if the proper education was set in. People often misunderstand that a specific culture is completely the same all within which is the biggest misconception of diversity. Growing up as one of the few Chinese families in the area, people would learn about another Chinese family and assume that my family's traditions and culture was the same. They were quickly told otherwise. Even though both families were indeed Chinese, our traditions, value, and beliefs was vastly difference. Introducing multicultural education is important to the diverse society of today for increasing better understanding of the cultures and the differences as well as learning to accept it.
A major obstacle is why do we care about the injustice of the understanding diversity and how do we improve the people's understanding. Without this education about multicultural differences, it can cause the multiple of stereotypes and misunderstanding the others from different cultures. To define the American culture would be like saying that all dogs are the same. It would be too difficult to describe so that all non-Americans could understand about the culture without the ambiguity. According to Donna Ford, the multicultural exposure will help prevent the stereotypes and even counter them. Caucasian students at a school were treating the fell...
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...o fail their students (Aronson and Anderson). Many teachers are white females of middle class according to Aronson and Anderson which limits them from fully educating the students of the different cultural background. If a soccer coach couldn't play soccer, the team will fail to reach their maximum potential for the team and is being set up to fail. To progress forward, there needs to be changes and better ways to educate the teachers so that they can better educate to the students properly. In the minority community, the rate of failure continues to raise in the education systems (Rubal-Lopez and Anselmo 67-70). What problem is posed? Their cultures are often misinterpreted and vastly generalized so that people expected everyone on a particular culture to act the same way.
Culture differences never stop people from integrating other cultural ideas into their own.
...Teaching acceptance and diversity of different ethnicity is one of the key components that can be taught in our school systems today. Here in America we have many different ethnic groups and races, we are one big melting pot. During school these differences should be embraced in a positive manner and a proper learning experience. Diversity is often mistaken for the word division, and sometimes people teach that diversity is division. Diversity should be taught in a way that brings people together, not divide people into groups. Like Konig said, “I hadn’t really given much thought to the ethnic and national backgrounds of Sarah’s classmates. I can guarantee that Sarah, being two and a half gave the subject absolutely no thought.” (51) We can take a few lessons from Konigs daughter and learn to not give the subject any thought, and just accept people for who they are.
Over the past several weeks, I have researched, read, and learned many new things regarding the topic of multicultural education. I have learned that all children should be taught to treat others with dignity and respect not matter what their culture, race, or family structure. I have also learned how important it is for teachers to explore multicultural education on a daily bases because it is necessary for the academic success for students how originate from different backgrounds.
The world is made up of many different types of people, each one having his or her cultural background. Over the years, the United States has become increasingly populated with cultural diversity. This influx has prompted school administrators to recognize the need to incorporate multicultural programs into their school environment including classroom settings, school wide activities, and curriculum as it becomes more evident that the benefits of teaching cultural diversity within the school setting will positively influence our communities, and ultimately the entire nation’s future. The purpose of this paper is to share the pros and cons of multicultural education in the classroom. Additionally, I will express my views compared to those in the reading requirements for this assignment, as well as, new knowledge obtained through the research. Finally, I will share situations where I was challenged introducing a multicultural issue during a class.
In the 1930's several educators called for programs of cultural diversity that encouraged ethnic and minority students to study their respective heritages. This is not a simple feat due to the fact that there is much diversity within individual cultures. A look at a 1990 census shows that the American population has changed more noticeably in the last ten years than in any other time in the twentieth century, with one out of every four Americans identifying themselves as black, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, or American Indian (Gould 198). The number of foreign born residents also reached an all time high of twenty million, easily passing the 1980 record of fourteen million. Most people, from educators to philosophers, agree that an important first step in successfully joining multiple cultures is to develop an understanding of each others background. However, the similarities stop there. One problem is in defining the term "multiculturalism". When it is looked at simply as meaning the existence of a culturally integrated society, many people have no problems. However, when you go beyond that and try to suggest a different way of arriving at that culturally integrated society, Everyone seems to have a different opinion on what will work. Since
2 Some experts believe there are many benefits we, as Americans, can experience in a multicultural education. James A Banks states; "An education that reflects the experiences of a nation across its racial, gender and socioeconomic boundaries-benefits all students." (96) [This is from the book editor, not from Banks.] Banks is a professor and director of the Center for Multicultural Education at the University of Washington in Seattle. [Put this before the quotation.] He also believes that an important goal should be to educate students so they can participate successfully in the workforce and in their civic communities to help the nation actualize ideals such as justice, equality and freedom (Banks 97). Studies show that student participation and test scores are increased when taught with group-oriented strategies consistent with their community cultures. Research indicates [whose authority?] students from diverse ethnic backgrounds do better in school when they have a better understanding of each other?s cultures (Banks 99).
For years, there has been a debate among the educational and social realms: Is multicultural education harmful or helpful to us Americans and everything that make us "One America" as a whole? There is a saying that goes "A whole is greater than the sum of its parts". I am a firm believer that we, as Americans, should be united as one, not divided as many. When it comes to our education, no matter how many different types of education, they should be able be to relate or become as one. However, with all positive consequence, there is a negative consequence. In this essay, multicultural education will be reexamined and reviewed, through the views of two articles: Multicultural Education and the Curriculum Transformation by James A. Banks
The modern education system in America is building up a nation of racist within our children. Educations promotion of cultural diversity and awareness is actually creating a segregated, inconsiderate, racist culture that prides itself on being racially and ethnically diverse. This emphasis on cultural awareness is built on the idea that the only way for America to reach true diversity is if Americans understand what makes other nations and cultures different. By definition however, cultural awareness is the understanding of the differences between oneself and the people from other countries/backgrounds focusing on the difference in attitude and values. What modern education and culture promotes in cultural awareness stays from this definition
Throughout much of the past century, the United States sought to stamp its cultural ideal upon almost all peoples who existed within its realm of influence. It is only through the relatively modern ideology of multiculturalism and the celebration of diversity that the United States has begun to make amends for the injustices it has committed on other cultures. Today, with multiculturalism entering into the classrooms and other realms, different cultures are finally getting the attention they deserve.
Diversity in classrooms can open student’s minds to all the world has to offer. At times diversity and understanding of culture, deviant experiences and perspectives can be difficult to fulfill, but with appropriate strategies and resources, it can lead students gaining a high level of respect for those unlike them, preferably than a judgmental and prejudiced view.
As we proceed further into the 21st century, multiculturalism becomes more relevant to obtaining a truly global society. Dr. James A. Banks defines the meaning of multicultural education and its potential impact on society when it is truly integrated into American classrooms. In his lecture, Democracy, Diversity and Social Justice: Education in a Global Age, Banks (2006) defines the five dimensions of multicultural education that serve as a guide to school reform when trying to implement multicultural education (Banks 2010). The goal of multicultural education is to encourage students to value their own cultures and the diverse cultures of those around them without politicizing their differences but rather, as Banks passionately explains in his lecture, “to actualize the ideals stated in the Constitution” (2006) forming “civil, moral, and just communities.”
Students in the United States experience varying degrees of Multicultural Education. To my benefit, I was brought up in a learning environment that was culturally accepting and engaging. I was enrolled in the Franklin Pierce School District for my entire public education career and at Pierce College during my last two years of high school. Since the beginning of my academic career, I’ve been exposed to a learning environment filled with a rich amount of diversity among students which in turn produced well-roundedness in myself. In my experience as a FPSD student, I’ve shared experiences with fellow peers of different races, cultures, and socioeconomic standings. Pierce College boasts an even more specific type of diversity within the student
The cultural diversity in society, which is reflected in schools, is forcing schools not to solely rely on content-centered curriculum, but to also incorporate student-centered lesson plans based on critique and inquiry. This requires multicultural education to a dominant part of the school system, not just an extra course or unit. Further, it demands that learning itself no longer be seen as obtaining knowledge but rather, education be seen as creating knowledge. Multicultural education should be seen as affirming the diversity of students and communities, promoting the multicultural ideas of the United States, and building the knowledge and behaviors needed for students to be a positive and contributing member of society and the global community as a whole.
The world is currently undergoing a cultural change, and we live in an increasingly diverse society. This change is not only affect the people in the community but also affect the way education is viewed. Teaching diversity in the classroom and focusing multicultural activities in the programs can help improve positive social behavior in children. There is no question that the education must be prepared to embrace the diversity and to teach an increasingly diverse population of young children.
We need to be aware of the diversity in the classroom. Cultural diversity includes: bi-racial, adoptive, immigrant, gay, and step-families. It is a large majority of the students today even in my generation. Focusing on making a balanced curriculum that exposes the students to all of these different backgrounds is very important. I know that it is likely that a teacher will not be able to cater to every student, but it is important to involve each of them. There is a large percentage of students that have dropped out due to the lack of having a connection with the curriculum. It is frustrating that we are lacking progress in our schools to help these children connect when studies show that each cultural group will soon be equal in numbers. We need to form a better
According to Bennett (2015), “Multicultural Education is a complex approach to teaching and learning that includes the movement toward equity in schools and classrooms, the transformation of the curriculum, the process of becoming multicultural competent, and the commitment to address societal injustice” (p. 2). Teaching and learning in a multicultural system is designed around collaborative decision making, respect for all parties, and nurturing a cultural diverse society. Multicultural education recognizes and integrates cultural characteristics into the learning environment.