Transcript Slide 1
Foundations of Multicultural Education Chapter 1 Multicultural Education “Multicultural education is an educational strategy in which students’ cultural backgrounds are used to develop effective classroom instruction and school environments.” Addresses cultural diversity and equality in schools…ensuring the same access to the benefits of society regardless of group membership Characteristics of a Multicultural School Faculty, administration, staff accurately reflect the pluralistic composition of the U.S. Academic achievement differences disappear Curriculum incorporates multiple perspectives and contributions of many cultural groups Students are able to use their own cultural resources Students learn to confront inequities Adults view themselves as learners Staff deals with controversial issues History of Multicultural Education From deficiency to difference Issues of power and oppression…critical pedagogy, antiracist education, critical race theory Five basic concepts supporting multicultural education Culture Cultural identity Pluralism Equality Social justice Characteristics of Culture Enculturation and socialization Culture is shared…most points of agreement are outside awareness Culture is an adaptation…to the setting Culture is a dynamic system Cultural Identity Ethnocentrism versus cultural relativism Gender, exceptionality, ethnicity, age, geography, class, language, religion Cultural borders Biculturalism… “In our expanding, diverse nation, it is critical that educators themselves become at least bicultural.” (border crossers) The Dominant Culture Anglo-Saxon, Western European tradition Individualism Freedom…not having others determine values, ideas, or behaviors Privilege…most members of dominant culture do not see themselves as privileged Acculturation Dressing, speaking, and behaving like members of the dominant group…adopting the dominant group’s cultural patterns Acculturation does not guarantee acceptance by the dominant group Involuntary immigrants…limited structural assimilation Equality and Social Justice Egalitarianism…the belief in social, political, and economic rights and privileges for all people Individualism and Meritocracy…the belief that everyone has the opportunity to be successful, if they just work hard enough The individual over the group, the individual can go to the top; focus on differences and competition, internal characteristics such as motivation…the individual’s responsibility to use these characteristics to go as far as possible Obstacles to equality Prejudice…focuses on attitudes…feelings of anger, fear, hatred, distrust about members of a certain group…negative stereotypes Discrimination…focuses on behavior, individual and institutional