1. Education That Is Multicultural
Chapter 4

2. Learning Outcomes
The importance of diversity, equality, and social justice in high-quality education for all students
Culturally relevant teaching practices
Bringing multicultural perspectives to the curriculum
Differing approaches for teaching students who are learning English
The role of social justice in schools

3. Equity
The state of fairness and justice across individuals and groups, not meaning the same educational strategies across groups but does expect equal results
To help all students learn and reach their potential regardless of their socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, language, gender, religion, and ability
Educators must view all aspects of education, e.g. hidden curriculum, staffing, discipline, extracurriculars through a multicultural lens

4. Multicultural Education
An educational strategy that incorporates the teaching of students from diverse backgrounds, human relations, and the study of ethnic and other cultural groups in a school environment that support diversity and equity
In education that is multicultural, all teaching is culturally relevant, and classrooms and schools are models of democracy and equity

5. Undergirding Tenets
Three core beliefs about schooling and society guide the development of education that supports democracy for all Cultural diversity is a national strength that should be valued and promoted. Social justice and equality are other viable goals for society and should be modeled in classrooms and schools

6. Social Justice
Social justice focuses on how we help others in the community who are less well off than we are
Social justice in education requires schools to provide all students equal access to high-quality education
A theory of social justice suggests that students with the fewest advantages have the most advantages in education, the greatest resources for their education

7. Equality
“Although equality is an espoused goal of democracy, its meaning differs from one person to another.”
The system of meritocracy is built on the idea that with hard work, diligence, and persistence, a person should be able to finish school and obtain a good job. Poverty and discrimination are obstacles that can be overcome…(there are problems with this view)

8. Meritocracy
A system based on the belief that individuals’ achievements are based on their own personal merits and hard work and that the people who achieve at the highest levels deserve the greatest social and financial rewards

9. Equal Educational Opportunity
Access to similar education for all students regardless of their cultural background or family circumstances
Most equal educational opportunity programs have struggled with overcoming educational deficiencies of underserved students by providing compensatory or remedial programs to reduce the educational gaps that have given advantaged students a head start

10. Equal Educational Opportunity
The richest school districts spend 56% more per student than do the poorest
38% of the nation’s 4th graders do not read at basic level and 73% score below writing proficiency level (NAEP) National Assessment of Educational Progress
In math and science, U.S. students are behind many other nations by 12th grade

11. Culturally Relevant Teaching
“All people have preferred learning and teaching styles that are embedded in their cultural background and experiences.”
A teacher cannot determine the learning styles, prior knowledge, or cultural experiences of students by simply knowing that they are from a specific ethnic group or socioeconomic level
Culturally relevant teaching validates the cultures of students and communities…which demonstrates teacher caring to students, a first step toward building trust between teachers and students

12. Building on Cultural Context
Teachers should be able to help students see the relationship between the subject matter and the world in which they live. Using the students’ prior knowledge and experiences with the subject matter is critical

13. Validating Student Voices
Voice…the right and opportunity to speak and be heard as an equal
When the classroom climate begins to include student voices, students may express anger and be confrontative.
Respect for differences is key to affirming student voices

14. Challenges in Multicultural Classrooms
Technology and Equity…the digital divide refers to the differences in access to technology tools and the Internet between those with economic advantages and those without them
“If the Internet is not being used in schools and communities to address the problems faced in those communities, it is not authentic or culturally relevant to students or their families”

15. Five Key Characteristics of a Positive Information Society
Community driven and meets real community needs
Overcomes major content barriers facing the underserved
Provides people to help
Offers on-line content that is easy to use
Is sustainable

16. Education for Language Diversity
8% of the U.S. population indicates they speak English less than “very well”
Many students entering school with limited English skills are not only learning a second language but also adjusting to a new culture
The dropout rate for English language learners is two to two and a half times as great as for other students of the same age