Multiculturalism in the Curriuculum

The reflection this is week will be based on the following three articles: Organizers See 'New Civil Rights Movement' in Immigration Protests, Multiculturalism in School Curriculum, and Toward a Centrist Curriculum: Two Kinds of Multiculturalism in Elementary School.

From the last post, we learn viewpoints of multiculturalism in general. Now, we take a closer examination of multiculturalism and its role in elementary classrooms. In regards to multiculturalism in the curriculum, there are different viewpoints on what it should look like and how it should be taught in the classrooms. In the article Toward a Centrist Curriculum: Two Kinds of Multiculturalism in Elementary School, Hirsch brings up a lot of good discussion of what a multicultural curriculum would include. Hirsch states that the proposed curriculum by the Core Knowledge Sequence would have the following characteristics: "1) It encourages knowledge of and sympathy towards the diverse cultures of the world. 2) It fosters respect for every child's home culture as well as for the cosmopolitan school-based culture. 3) It gives all children competence in the current system of language and allusion that is dominant in the nation's economic and intellectual discourse". I completely agree that these characteristics need to be incorporated into the curriculum because teachers must facilitate classroom learning as well as social cohesion. Hirsch states "classroom learning cannot go forward effectively unless all students in the class share some common points of reference".

Through teaching multiculturalism in the classroom, a true sense of fairness for all students will be observed. In the article What is Multiculturalism in School Curriculum?, the author brings up a valid point discussing that to teach multiculturalism in the curriculum, a teacher does not have to move away from teaching the traditional curriculum. For instance, I believe in Social Studies if the teacher presents all sides and feelings to events that occurred the students gain a deeper knowledge and respect for all countries or people involved. The article also brings up the fact that some consider multicultural curriculum is demonstrated by teaching African culture solely during Black History Month or about women during Women's History Month. I believe that cultures should be taught throughout the units to integrate the cultures and teach about respect, similarities and differences, and understanding of all cultures. I currently am not teaching in the classroom, however I will incorporate integrating the different cultures and viewpoints to the units in the curriculum. I also believe after presenting the students with the different viewpoints from history events that they discuss them and understand that it is ok to have different opinions as long as you can respectively argue your stance without disrespecting other's views and culture.

After reading the articles, I get a broader understanding of what it means to teach multiculturalism and integrating it in the curriculum. In today schools, I thinks the curriculum, policies, and structure of the schools aren't consciously used as a means of social control. However, in some senses I am very naive. I only know that from here on out the curriculum must change because America is changing. We are growing more diverse and the curriculum should teach to the different diversities and make them feel apart of what they are learning.