Multicultural education refers to applying various aspects of different learning styles and techniques to reach children of different racial. Cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Because the extent of these variations is so diverse, educationists have begun to integrate material within the classroom to ensure each child is efficiently and equally benefiting scholastically. There are some Americans however, who disagree with multicultural education; these people think that multicultural education designs would strike down what it means to be an “American” country.
Fortunately, for the sake of innocent children, this discriminative ideology is kept away from classrooms. In order to propel multicultural education in the classroom; on behalf of illustration, could apply James Bank’s approaches to enhance orientation between diverse students. For example while teaching 8th grade history; I would use Bank’s Contribution Approach. In doing so, I would have my students choose their favorite musical artist. Although I would need research to confirm the accuracy; I assume most (if not everyone) has different ancestral blood within them.
By having the students choose a musical artist they idealize; I could help students understand that it doesn’t matter what heritage a person comes from, for it is because who they are and how one can relate to them. Using this strategy, students would have to research the artist’s background and history. After this I would have them write an essay that asks them to Identify what they Like about this person and If their ethnicity and culture made them view the artist differently. If instructing tenth grade History, I would use the Additive Approach.
Because the auricular is not changed. But the content is enriched upon; I would choose a costume party during a lesson. Say there were no “special” awareness months during this time, (Women’s History Month, Martin Luther King Day etc. ) would have the students pick a person whom they are Inspired by that contributed to their society In some way. The students would be asked to write an essay and speak about their historical figure in front of the class. They could include anything they wanted about the person; anything they thought was important, relevant, and interesting.
This old allow for all the students to express his or hers ethnic or cultural backgrounds to be explained so that; if some students were puzzled or were biased about a deferent culture, they could see the real scope. The costume party would allow fun Into the Instruction and expose the students to people they have never heard of (the historical figures), but who have had great Impact In the world (whether small or big). Students would not have to participate in dressing up if they did not want too. More than likely I would need to take a class vote to see if they even wanted too.
I would also have to take into consideration of any poverty stricken students within the classroom and decide whether or not this activity would isolate them. Overall my curriculum would not be changed; for Its substance would consist of informing students about people of different cultures and races who did great things. If I were to Instruct twelfth grade History, I would use the Transformation Approach. In this subject I would teach about the immigration; only it would be gun rough ten eyes AT ten emigrants I would emphasize to students Tanat Detoured he Great Depression; the U.
S. Was perfectly fine with Mexican-Americans coming to U. S. , and taking the long hour and low wage paying Jobs. Once the Depression hit, the people blamed the Mexican-Americans for taking all of the work which caused birth ridden citizens to be struck with poverty and Job loss. For the Spanish, this was unfair and demeaning. Still to this day, we have trade agreements with Mexico; but citizenship is nearly forbidden unless one is grandfathered in. Another aspect would be to show the students how law enforcements were told to deport immigrants who led major offenses with the law.
However, deportation became more about quota’s, and mothers with parking tickets who birthed children in the U. S. Were deported away from their families; with not even a good-bye. Having my students see the opposite side of a controversy like this, would allow different and unbiased perspective. From my own multicultural experiences in school, I particularly remember a research assignment in fourth grade that made a huge impact in my life. I grew up in a small rural town, where African Americans were merely the butt of a Joke.
I was a young child however; I had no idea what these things meant or even that they were wrong. So in fourth grade, my teacher had us do a research assignment over an African American historical figure. Mine was named . Although I can’t remember very much; I do remember that I thought it was of uttermost importance that he invented the air conditioner! When my family or other peers spoke ugly of Africans after this, I always brought up this man and all of the things he did. People grew weary of me fast.
But I found, by doing this project and hearing everyone else’s ports; that most of the luxurious or important items used were invented by African Americans. So yes, multicultural education is extremely important. It can change a child’s point of view; even if the environment around them is beyond influential or intimidating. I think it helps support cognitive thinking, and unveil the true aspects of different cultures, traditions, race, individuality and free thinking. I also believe that by teaching multiculturalism, children would be more likely to accept the diversity of people around them.
A lot of discrimination, in my opinion, comes from adults who fill their children’s heads. If children were able to correctly learn about other cultures; then they would more apt to accepting it. It will always be addressed outside of school, so teachers should advice to teach it in the classroom. When considering my example for instance; I could have followed my peers and completely disregarded African Americans, especially with me being so young, but instead I was blessed to have been exposed to this particular project that changed my life, and the people I encounter forever.
