MULTICULTURALISM AND EDUCATION

By: Amanda Howard Waters

WHAT IS MULTICULTURALISM?

Multiculturalism is the state or condition of being multicultural (dictionary.com)

WHAT DOES MULTICULTURAL MEAN?Consisting of, relating to, or representing several different cultures or cultural elements (dictionary.com)

WHAT IS MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION?

More than just celebrating Cinco de Mayo with tacos and piñatas or reading about Martin Luther King, Jr.

It is an educational movement It is a set of strategies aimed to address the

diverse challenges experienced by the rapidly changing U.S. demographics

It is a beginning step to shifting the balance of power and privilege in the educational system

(Garcia, Multicultural Education in Your Classroom)

GOALS OF MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION

To create a safe, accepting and successful learning environment

To increase awareness of global issues To strengthen cultural consciousness To strengthen intercultural awareness To teach students that there are multiple

historical perspectives To encourage critical thinking To prevent prejudice and discrimination

(Garcia, Multicultural Education in Your Classroom)

ADVANTAGES OF MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION

According to the National Association for Multicultural Education, there are several advantages of multicultural education

Multicultural education: Helps students develop positive self-image Offers students an equitable educational

opportunity Allows multiple perspectives and ways of

thinking Combats stereotypes and prejudicial behavior Teachers students to critique society in the

interest of social justice

(Garcia, Multicultural Education in Your Classroom)

EARLY EDUCATION TEACHERS PLAY A HUGE

ROLE What happens during a child’s early years shapes

whether they will be open to or fearful of people with different backgrounds than their own

These years determine whether children will feel proud or ashamed of their heritage

You play a crucial role in laying these foundations Your classrooms are one of the first group

environments students will encounter outside of their homes.

Your challenge: to make it inclusive and respectful!

(Chang, Many Languages, Many Cultures)

NEW TEACHER EVALUATION TOOL Beginning in August 2008, North

Carolina began implementing the new NC Teacher Evaluation Process (ncpublicschools.org)

As of August 2010, every teacher in North Carolina is evaluated using this tool (ncpublicschools.org)

WHAT DOES THE NC TEACHER EVALUATION PROCESS HAVE TO DO WITH

MULTICULTURALISM?

This evaluation process is composed of five standards and each standard has goals beneath them (ncpublicschools.org)

Standard II is teachers establish a respectful environment for a diverse population of students (ncpublicschools.org)

STANDARD II GOALS Teachers provide an environment in which each

child has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults encourage an environment that is inviting, respectful,

supportive, inclusive, and flexible Teachers embrace diversity in the school

community and around the world Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures Select materials and develop lessons that counteract

stereotypes and incorporate contributions Recognize the influences on a child’s development,

personality, and performance Consider and incorporate different points of view

(ncpublicschools.org)

STANDARD II GOALS CONTINUED

Teachers treat students as individuals Maintain high expectations for all students Appreciate differences and value contributions

by building positive, appropriate relationships Teachers adapt their teaching for the benefit

of students with special needs Collaborate with specialists Engage students and ensure to meet the needs

of students through inclusion and other models of effective practice

(ncpublicschools.org)

STANDARD II GOALS CONTINUED

Teachers work collaboratively with the families and significant adults in the lives of their students Improve communication and collaboration

between the school, the home, and the community

Promote trust and understanding and build partnerships with school community

Seek solutions to overcome obstacles that prevent family and community involvement

(ncpublicschools.org)

HOW DO I MEET THESE GOALS? You may feel that attaining these goals is

impossible, but they really are not Through this presentation we will look at

ways in which we can successfully create multicultural classrooms

SELF-QUIZ: WHAT ARE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS?

With your co-workers surrounding you, discuss the following questions: What are the different cultures in our school? (include

categories such as ethnic groups, students with disabilities, new immigrants, residents of public housing, and any others that apply)

What characteristics first come to mind when you think of each group?

Where did these impressions come from? (Peers, family, media, religion, etc.)

How do you treat people based on these impressions? Can you remember a time when someone made

assumptions about you based on a group you belong to? How did it make you feel?

(Ross, Connect with Kids and Parents of Different Cultures)

WHERE DO OUR BIASES BEGIN? The way we react to those who are different than us is

influenced by many factors:

Our own personal experiences with those who are different than us

What we’ve heard from our families, peers, the media, popular culture, school, religious institutions, etc.

Whether we see ourselves sharing any values, goals, ways of doing things, etc. with those who are different than ourselves

How much power we believe those who are different have in our society and any laws or special programs we know about that affect how these people are treated

(Ross, Connect with Kids and Parents of Different Cultures)

HOW CAN WE BUILD A SHIELD AGAINST BIAS?

Be aware of your assumptions Notice when you make a judgment, then figure out

why and what it is based upon Invite an objective outsider to observe you in your

classroom Be aware of cultural differences

Everything we do is shaped by our culture You can learn a lot about other cultures from your

co-workers Organize an after school gathering for all staff

members to bring a cultural dish and discuss some of their cultures characteristics

(Ross, Connect with Kids and Parents of Different Cultures)

Keep every student in mind Be sensitive to any cultural shocks that new students

experience Be direct and deal with any student biases right

away For example, a kindergarten teacher shared a story of one of her students

who had brought her new purse to show and tell. She innocently said that on the way to school her mom made her walk faster when an African American male was walking behind them, because her mom was afraid he might try to steal her new purse. In a situation like this, it’s important to ask the child why their mom would have felt that way. Then start a class discussion about how people who steal things come in many colors and why it’s a mistake to judge people by their outer appearance.

Establish expectations and clearly communicate them, this way no one will feel superior or inferior

Encourage students to be honest about their fears and misconceptions

Make sure your classroom reflects diversity Do the pictures on your walls include a variety of cultures? Do you have a multicultural curriculum?

Familiarize yourself with all the holidays/traditions your students celebrate or participate in

(Ross, Connect with Kids and Parents of Different Cultures)

A GREAT WAY TO START THE YEAR!

At the first meeting between you and the parents of your students, usually Open House, set the right foundation in order to be as knowledgeable as possible about your students

Ask the following questions: How would you like us to recognize your child ethnically? What family traditions would you like us to acknowledge? What can we learn about your culture to help us be as

respectful as possible? What language, or languages, does your family speak?

(Chang, Many Languages, Many Cultures)

RELIGION IN THE CLASSROOM As a teacher, you must be careful not to ask

a student to participate in anything that may have an effect on their religious beliefs

Make sure you are aware of the different religious beliefs of your students Best way to do this is ask the parents along with

the other questions at Open House Also, make sure that all students’ religions

are respected and not ridiculed in the classroom

STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

It is also very important that teachers remain aware of their students with special needs

As a teacher you will be expected to make adaptations to your lessons for your students with special needs

A helpful printable that I found on teachervison.com uses an acronym to help teachers before selecting possible adaptations

The acronym is the FLEXIBLE acronym: Feasible Lively Eliminated eXplicit Intentional Beneficial Limelight Evaluated

Let’s refer to the FLEXIBLE handout you received

FLEXIBLE ACRONYM Feasible

Successful adaptations must be feasible for the classroom teachers to implement

Lively Successful adaptations must be lively, engaging,

and/or fun Eliminated

Successful adaptations must be developed with the goal of working toward independence with a gradual fading and eventual elimination of the adaptation

FLEXIBLE ACRONYM CONTINUED eXplicit

Successful adaptations must have a definite purpose, a purpose that is made explicit to students, other professionals in the classroom, parents, and if necessary the students peers

Intentional Successful adaptations should be part of a

comprehensive plan for the student with disabilities

Beneficial Successful adaptations should benefit the

student with disabilities and either enhance or at least not detract from the learning of other students in the classroom

FLEXIBLE ACRONYM CONTINUED Limelight

Successful adaptations do not place undue attention on the student with the disabilities or put the student in a potentially embarrassing situation

Evaluated Successful adaptations are evaluated on an

ongoing basis

ROAD BLOCKS TO IMPLEMENTING MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION SUCCESSFULLY

Not as easy as a yearly celebration or supplemental unit here or there Require schools to reform their traditional curriculums

Most curriculums focus on North America and Europe more so than any other region

Multicultural Education is most successful when implemented as a school wide approach

Unfortunately, most institutions are not prepared for implementation

Implementation requires: A diverse, culturally competent staff Educators must be aware, responsive, and embracing of

diverse beliefs, perspectives, and experiences Must also be willing to address issues of controversy (racism,

sexism, religious intolerance, classism, ageism, etc.)(Garcia, Multicultural Education in Your Classroom)

Let’s make it Eastern Elementary’s goal to multiculturalize our

classrooms and help each of our students become what

they most want to be!

Go Beavers!

BIBLIOGRAPHY Chang, Hedy. “Many Languages, Many Cultures.” Scholastic. Early Childhood

Today, April 2006. 20 November 2010. http://www2scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4278

Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, LLC, 2010. Web. 28 November 2010. http://

dictionary.reference.com

Garcia, E.K. “Multicultural Education in Your Classroom.” Teach Hub. n.p. n.d. 20 November 2010. http://www.teachhub.com/news/article/cat/14/item/203

North Carolina Public Schools. Department of Public Instruction, 2010. Web. 28 November 2010. http://www.ncpublicschools.org

Ross, Linda. “Connect with Kids and Parents of Different Cultures.” Scholastic. n.p. n.d. 20 November 2010. http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3638