In my last posting, I defined multiculturalism as “the preservation of different cultures or cultural identities within a unified society, as a state or nation” (Multiculturalism, n.d.). Multiculturalism is becoming extremely prevalent in the United States because the population is becoming more and more culturally diverse. Therefore, the public schools in the U.S. are experiencing the same results. The Staff at GreatSchools.org indicate that children can be better prepared for a multicultural democracy by attending a school with a diverse student body (GreatSchools Staff, n.d.). How do we help the children learn to respect and appreciate the cultures of their fellow classmates? As educators, should we try to integrate multiculturalism into the curriculum? If integrating multiculturalism into the curriculum is the right answer, then the next question is how do we perform this task without appearing to show favoritism to a particular group.
In an article in Education World, a former professor of multicultural education feels that incorporating multiculturalism into the existing curriculum is in fact the best way to teach multiculturalism (Newquist, 1997). As I consider this concept, I think about a recent discussion that I recently had with some of my fellow classmates on multiculturalism in the classroom. One opinion that I vividly remember is a classmate describing how teachers would only address a particular culture on a holiday or a specific month. For example, Martin Luther King Day, Cinco de Mayo, or Thanksgiving. In his article entitled Multiculturalism in School Curriculum, Adam Waxler (n.d.) states the following: “Having separate months for different cultures is exactly the opposite of what a true multicultural education should be trying to achieve.”
What is the best approach to incorporate multiculturalism into the curriculum? As I ponder on and research this question, I came across a statement made by the GreatSchools Staff that I referenced earlier. They indicate the following: “Teachers are faced with the challenge of making instruction “culturally responsive” for all students while not favoring one group over another” (GreatSchools Staff, n.d.). Personally, I agree with Adam Waxler’s idea of how to appropriately apply this concept into the curriculum. In his opinion, the teacher should use the traditional curriculum and incorporate various perspectives and different cultures within the various units into the traditional curriculum. This is the way that he teaches multiculturalism without totally forgetting about the traditional curriculum. For example, when he teaches a traditional curriculum topic such as the Vietnam War, he has his students examine the opinions of the war from the perspective of various groups of Americans from different races and genders (Waxler, n.d.).
As I reflect back to my childhood, I hardly remember learning anything about other cultures within my curriculum. I lived in a rural area of Southern Tennessee. The school that I attended was not at all culturally diverse. There were very few students of another race or nationality. Now that I think back on this time, I wonder how my fellow classmates felt about this especially the few that were considered the minority.
In closing, I think that it is important to quote a statement from E.D. Hirsch, Jr. from his article Toward a Centrist Curriculum. He states, “Children will become adults who cooperate and sustain one another only if the school-based culture they gain makes them feel they truly belong to the larger society” (Hirsch, 1992).
References
GreatSchools Staff. (n.d.). How important is cultural diversity at your school? Retrieved from http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/defining-your-ideal/284-cultural-diversity-at-school.gs
Hirsch, Jr. E.D. (1992). Toward a centrist curriculum: Two kinds of multiculturalism in elementary school. Retrieved from http://teachingcontent.org/mimik/mimik_uploads/documents/4/CentCurr.pdf
Multiculturalism. (n.d.) Retrieved October 11, 2011 from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/multiculturalism
Newquist, C. (1997). Multiculturalism…Preparing students for a diverse and global society. Education World. Retrieved from http://www.educationworld.com/a_books/books001.shtml
Waxler, A. (n.d.). Multiculturalism in school curriculum. Retrieved from http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/articles/index.pl?page=7;read=1621
In my last posting, I defined multiculturalism as “the preservation of different cultures or cultural identities within a unified society, as a state or nation” (Multiculturalism, n.d.). Multiculturalism is becoming extremely prevalent in the United States because the population is becoming more and more culturally diverse. Therefore, the public schools in the U.S. are experiencing the same results. The Staff at GreatSchools.org indicate that children can be better prepared for a multicultural democracy by attending a school with a diverse student body (GreatSchools Staff, n.d.). How do we help the children learn to respect and appreciate the cultures of their fellow classmates? As educators, should we try to integrate multiculturalism into the curriculum? If integrating multiculturalism into the curriculum is the right answer, then the next question is how do we perform this task without appearing to show favoritism to a particular group.
In an article in Education World, a former professor of multicultural education feels that incorporating multiculturalism into the existing curriculum is in fact the best way to teach multiculturalism (Newquist, 1997). As I consider this concept, I think about a recent discussion that I recently had with some of my fellow classmates on multiculturalism in the classroom. One opinion that I vividly remember is a classmate describing how teachers would only address a particular culture on a holiday or a specific month. For example, Martin Luther King Day, Cinco de Mayo, or Thanksgiving. In his article entitled Multiculturalism in School Curriculum, Adam Waxler (n.d.) states the following: “Having separate months for different cultures is exactly the opposite of what a true multicultural education should be trying to achieve.”
What is the best approach to incorporate multiculturalism into the curriculum? As I ponder on and research this question, I came across a statement made by the GreatSchools Staff that I referenced earlier. They indicate the following: “Teachers are faced with the challenge of making instruction “culturally responsive” for all students while not favoring one group over another” (GreatSchools Staff, n.d.). Personally, I agree with Adam Waxler’s idea of how to appropriately apply this concept into the curriculum. In his opinion, the teacher should use the traditional curriculum and incorporate various perspectives and different cultures within the various units into the traditional curriculum. This is the way that he teaches multiculturalism without totally forgetting about the traditional curriculum. For example, when he teaches a traditional curriculum topic such as the Vietnam War, he has his students examine the opinions of the war from the perspective of various groups of Americans from different races and genders (Waxler, n.d.).
As I reflect back to my childhood, I hardly remember learning anything about other cultures within my curriculum. I lived in a rural area of Southern Tennessee. The school that I attended was not at all culturally diverse. There were very few students of another race or nationality. Now that I think back on this time, I wonder how my fellow classmates felt about this especially the few that were considered the minority.
In closing, I think that it is important to quote a statement from E.D. Hirsch, Jr. from his article Toward a Centrist Curriculum. He states, “Children will become adults who cooperate and sustain one another only if the school-based culture they gain makes them feel they truly belong to the larger society” (Hirsch, 1992).
References
GreatSchools Staff. (n.d.). How important is cultural diversity at your school? Retrieved from http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/defining-your-ideal/284-cultural-diversity-at-school.gs
Hirsch, Jr. E.D. (1992). Toward a centrist curriculum: Two kinds of multiculturalism in elementary school. Retrieved from http://teachingcontent.org/mimik/mimik_uploads/documents/4/CentCurr.pdf
Multiculturalism. (n.d.) Retrieved October 11, 2011 from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/multiculturalism
Newquist, C. (1997). Multiculturalism…Preparing students for a diverse and global society. Education World. Retrieved from http://www.educationworld.com/a_books/books001.shtml
Waxler, A. (n.d.). Multiculturalism in school curriculum. Retrieved from http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/articles/index.pl?page=7;read=1621
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