|
Defining Multicultural Education
"Multicultural education is a process of comprehensive school reform and basic education for all students. It challenges and rejects racism and other forms of discrimination in schools and society and accepts and affirms the pluralism (ethnic, racial, linguistic, religious, economic, and gender, among others) that students, their communities, and teachers represent. Multicultural education permeates the curriculum and instructional strategies used in schools, as well as the interactions among teachers, students, and parents, and the very way that schools conceptualize the nature of teaching and learning. Because it uses critical pedagogy as its underlying philosophy and focuses on knowledge, reflection, and action (praxis) as the basis for social change, multicultural education promotes the democratic principles of social justice.Nieto, S. (1996). Affirming diversity: The sociopolitical context of multicultural education (2nd ed.). New York: Longman.
.
The seven basic characteristics of multicultural education in this definition are:
.
Multicultural education is antiracist education.
Multicultural education is basic education.
Multicultural education isimportant for all students.
Multicultural education is pervasive.
Multicultural education is education for social justice.
Multicultural education is a process.
Multicultural education is critical pedagogy." (pp. 307-8)
Home Courses Handouts Vision Vita e-mail me
Return to top