Important Question

[Annies]

Hi everybody,
we are asking how we can promote multicultural education in the English classroom.
Thanks,
Annies.

[Boxcar]

This is a fun and easy thing to do. First, identify authors of different ethnicities, religions, and abilities. This can be done through a google search, asking a librarian, or reading the biographies of popular authors. Next, read thier works. They might compose poems, books, plays, and so on. If you like what you read or feel it will contribute to your class, assign the material. To help the students not only become more open to other cultures and groups of people, they will also see the bigger pictures by understanding the context in which each piece was created.

This is appropriate for many levels of learning. It will need to be tailored to your specific group of children. It can, however, be quite interesting for you and your kids.

One hint: If you don't think the children will stand for novels, try short stories. They are just as great, but you and the students might appreciate the shortened length.

[SiobhanMarie]

Do you have different nationalities in your classroom? Real life examples are a good idea, perhaps with you and your students or you could do it with the staff and show your students?

I like how Boxcar has said to "identify authors of different ethnicities, relgions and ABILITIES". Thats a good point, to choose a board range of multicultural people who have different talents and achievements... however does this have to be authors?

I have interpreted this question as multiculturalism in the classroom rather than education/books by multicultural people, can you further identify please Annie?

Thanks!

[AWOL]

Don't pick people because you want to have an equal amount of people from certain races. Instead look for the people who are right. I had this annoying teacher who insisted on showing us only black people in class. I corrected her one time on a theory and she called me racist because 'your only saying that because he's black'. So show them what's right, not equal.

[silvana]

Determining what is right will change with the context. What will be appropriate for one class of students will not be with another.......sensitivity is the key I guess ...personally I love multiculturality and promote it when ever and where ever I can

[Boxcar]

You took the words out of my mouth! I was wondering what "right" meant. Right is a relative term.

I know that it can be difficult when a teacher insists on everyone embracing thier ethnic backgrounds. if you are a mix of many different groups, how do you pick just one to focus on? Not all families keep traditions alive, and it can be hard to find stuff online about countries that don't even exist anymore.

That doesn't mean that this shouldn't be included in a classroom.

Sensitivity is the completely right idea.

[Aziz]

One of the ways you can exercise sensitivity is by asking your students what interests them. For example, if Mary is a CODA (Child of Deaf Parents), then perhaps you can talk about Deaf culture. And if Johnny has two moms, maybe you can talk about the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Transgender) Community. It makes these students feel more accepted, and often times, you learn more from them then you ever could from a book that only skims the surface of various types of diversity.

Multiculturalism can be taught with an emphasis on tolerance, as to avoid teaching people what to believe. Even if other students believe deaf people should learn to speak and lipread, or GLBT people should remain celibate, then at least they can learn to be tolerant of those who believe deaf people should be allowed to learn signed languages or who believe GLBT people should be allowed to be open about their sexuality.

Of course the best part is the students feel included and the topic often feels more relevant.

-Aziz

[Boxcar]

Those are really good suggestions. I like the idea about tolerance. There was a debate awhile back about children's books featuring two moms or two dads. Some parents said "Why are you teaching my child this?" A great response would have been "I'm teaching tolerance. I'm not teaching a certain lifestyle."