EDUC 2400 – Multicultural Education & ESL

Week 11: November 19, 2007

Section IV: The Challenge of Diversity in American Institutions

Chapter 13: Pluralism in Schools: The Promise of Multicultural Education

Overview of Concepts

Elementary, middle and secondary schools historically have been considered the vehicle by which we transmit our cultural values and knowledge to future generations. Chapter Thirteen describes the philosophy and potential practices of school multicultural education curriculums.

Following a brief review of America’s traditional educational philosophy known as “essentialism,” this chapter describes the changes necessary to create schools and classrooms where policies, practices, curriculum and instruction reflect the purposes and goals of multicultural education. The chapter concludes with an explanation of why multicultural education represents an educational reform that needs to be pursued for the benefit of all our students and for the future of our diverse society.

#1 – The Hidden Curriculum: what does it mean to you?

#2 – Issues in Multicultural Education: discussion (what can you do to change the world – idea exchange)

In class presentation: Chelsi

Section IV: The Challenge of Diversity in American Institutions

Chapter 14: Pluralism in Society: Creating Unity in a Diverse America

Overview of Concepts

Considerable effort is being made to instill in the American workforce a more inclusive attitude toward diversity. Chapter Fourteen will describe changes occurring in major institutions of our society that reflect the growing influence of pluralism as the preferred perspective in response to ongoing and growing diversity of the American people. Although certain states have initiated questions regarding the policy, the U.S. government continues to require affirmative action plans to ensure that opportunities are provided to members of groups that were discriminated against in the past and that continue to be suffer from discrimination. Higher education administrators have embraced the value of affirmative plans to broaden the diversity of faculty as well as student populations and to argue that such diversity enhances the education of all students.

In the corporate world, business leaders recognize a growing workforce and consumer diversity and are increasingly implementing diversity training to take advantage of both. Mass media organizations have promoted diversity by placing more women and people of color in positions that have a high public visibility, and the diversity in this profession is likely to increase given the significantly increasing numbers of women and people of color currently majoring in journalism or mass communication on college campuses. The military has taken aggressive action to promote gender and racial equality in its recruitment, in promotion policies and practices, and in its diversity training programs.

#1 – Enhancing Unity in America: What Should We Do Next?

Ask participants to speculate and to exercise some creative problem solving

#2 – Assessing Diversity and Pluralism in America

“How are humans different?”

Presentation by: Natalie, Danielle

Assignment for next week: Integrated lesson plan (discussion of what needs to be included in this lesson plan – using “corn” as an example)