The Integration of Multicultural Education

By:Lupita De

Loa

The Issue at Hand• Should teachers integrate multicultural education in the curriculum or base their lessons solely on one dominant culture?

Common Places • The United States is comprised of

people from many different cultural backgrounds.

• People who are knowledgeable in other cultures (specifically languages) are more likely to be successful.

• Students feel safe and are more likely to open up when they feel they can relate to something.

• Prejudices and racist views still exist.

What does it mean to teach “multiculturally”?

• It means that teachers integrate several cultures into the curricula as opposed to teaching from the view of only one dominant culture.

• For example, rather than only teaching the history of America, the teacher would also teach about Native American history or Afro-centric history.

What benefits can be reaped?• It teaches students to value and

respect other cultures• Makes students better-rounded• Students are able to form deeper

bonds with other peers through mutual understanding and respect of other cultures

More Benefits…• When students see they are learning not only

about the American culture, but their own and the cultures of their peers, they will find the information useful and will be more motivated to continue their education.

• Through gaining knowledge, respect, and understanding of other cultures, racism and prejudices will be eliminated.

• Students will understand the cultural backgrounds of their peers and other people so through this understanding, these people will become “humanized” again- thus racism will decrease.

• When students become knowledgeable about traditions and rites of other cultures, their prejudices or prior assumptions about people they do not know will be diminished because they will better understand other people.

Addressing diversity in the classroom and in society

• The vast majority of schools and cities are composed of many different cultures.

• Multicultural education directly addresses the high diversity that exists in most public schools and cities.

• Through the acknowledgement ofmany cultures, students are better prepared to face the real world.

Examples of Multicultural Education

• Teaching about Dia de Los Muertos• Explaining the background of

Martin Luther King Jr. Day • Teaching about the Chinese New

Year • Talking about Thanksgiving from a

Native American perspective

Why isn’t it already occurring?

• Because of other obligations, such as standardized testing, teachers don’t always have the time to create separate lesson plans.

• Other reasons:–Fear of misunderstanding

(condescending) –Fear of being fired for not following the

textbook–To avoid any conflicts

What can be done to integrate it?

• Teachers need to be motivated and aware of what is occurring in their surroundings as well as the benefits they will see from teaching about other cultures.

• If they begin to see a push for multicultural education of behalf of other teachers, parents, siblings, students, etc. they will be more likely to take the time to integrate multiculturalism.

Conclusion• The integration of multicultural

education is crucial for our ever-changing and diverse communities for students to understand

themselves and the people

around them.