The Importance of Multicultural Education in Our Schools
By Stacia Roth
EDI 600 Psychological Foundation of Education
School of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
May 28, 2009
Yesterday’s class was amazing! The cross-culture conversation was a learning experience like no other. I think that we all learned about other cultures and ethnicities and about ourselves. The points, opinions, and insight of everyone in the class made me think about multiculturalism in a whole new way. I really appreciate hearing other people talk about their background and all of the truths and misconceptions it encompasses. I think that a class discussion that runs as deep as this one is so valuable and provides a lesson that can’t be found in a book.
Viewing the video “A Class Divided” gave us all the opportunity to see an extraordinary teacher show her third grade class what discrimination really feels like. Instead of just talking about the injustice and cruelty of racism she actually gave them a taste of it. This teacher was passionate enough about her cause to take a risk and enter unknown territory in order to provide them with a memorable and life changing lesson. These young children fell right into the trap of hating other children based on something as trivial as eye color. When the tables were turned and the children felt the pain of being “less” than the rest of the class, the lesson was a proven success. The teacher taught these children a lesson much larger than math or science. She taught them a life lesson on the value of being fair and equal human beings, a responsibility of educators that is often forgotten.
I think that teaching children to accept and embrace the differences in people is essential to being an effective teacher. Regardless of what they hear at home, what they hear at school can make a difference. We have to give each individual child with each individual difference the respect and acceptance they deserve. It is then that they will, in turn, respect us as teachers and listen to our message.
Long Island University, C. W. Post
May 28, 2009
Yesterday’s class was amazing! The cross-culture conversation was a learning experience like no other. I think that we all learned about other cultures and ethnicities and about ourselves. The points, opinions, and insight of everyone in the class made me think about multiculturalism in a whole new way. I really appreciate hearing other people talk about their background and all of the truths and misconceptions it encompasses. I think that a class discussion that runs as deep as this one is so valuable and provides a lesson that can’t be found in a book.
Viewing the video “A Class Divided” gave us all the opportunity to see an extraordinary teacher show her third grade class what discrimination really feels like. Instead of just talking about the injustice and cruelty of racism she actually gave them a taste of it. This teacher was passionate enough about her cause to take a risk and enter unknown territory in order to provide them with a memorable and life changing lesson. These young children fell right into the trap of hating other children based on something as trivial as eye color. When the tables were turned and the children felt the pain of being “less” than the rest of the class, the lesson was a proven success. The teacher taught these children a lesson much larger than math or science. She taught them a life lesson on the value of being fair and equal human beings, a responsibility of educators that is often forgotten.
I think that teaching children to accept and embrace the differences in people is essential to being an effective teacher. Regardless of what they hear at home, what they hear at school can make a difference. We have to give each individual child with each individual difference the respect and acceptance they deserve. It is then that they will, in turn, respect us as teachers and listen to our message.
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