Cultural Diversity Multicultural Education Was Term Paper

Thus, the first step is to dispel of few of the common myths about cultural diversity, such as the myth that a minority culture should be characterized as a phenomenon that diverges from the mainstream culture, the myth that bilingualism should be considered as a disability rather than an asset, or the myth that multicultural education is only relevant in those classes where there are members of the minority groups (Sanchez, 1995). Thus, the main ways in which the aims of multicultural education can be achieved are to make the students or else other members of the community aware of the process of stereotyping and of what it implies, to expand the students' knowledge about other cultures with an emphasis on the basic equality of every civilization, to stress the value of diversity, to use comparisons between different cultures when trying to teach about similarities and dissimilarities. All this can help mediate the relation between students or people of different cultures in a positive way, and can prevent the probable conflicts that could appear because of some differences of custom or perception, as it could happen for example when people first meet in society, and are confronted with different perspectives on salutations or other forms of verbal and non-verbal communication. Surely, multicultural education is not a closed field, and it can be permanently enriched and contributed to through various new approaches. The basis thing to consider is, nevertheless, to try to encourage positive social attitudes that will lead to better human relations and the progress towards globalization.

References

Burnett, G. (1998). Varieties of Multicultural Education: An Introduction. ERIC Digest 98. http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/educatrs/presrvce/pe3lk1.htm

Cohen, Cheryl Bernstein. (1998) ERIC Clearinghouse for Social Studies/Social Science Education. http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/educatrs/presrvce/pe3lk1.htm

Tharp, R. (1998) Research Knowledge and Policy Issues in Cultural Diversity and Education. http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/educatrs/presrvce/pe3lk1.htm

Sanchez, W. (1995) ERIC Clearinghouse on Counseling and Student Services Greensboro NC., American Psychological Association Washington DC. http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/initial.html