 WHAT IS MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION?

Multicultural education is an educational philosophy that focuses on celebrating

cultural differences while also recognizing
g the importance of challenging all forms of discrimination based on race, gender, age,
religion, ability or sexual orientation.

Contemporary issues related to multicultural functioning

1. GENDER BIASES

Not all educational bias is intentional; sometimes bias occurs when people aren't
consciously aware of their beliefs and behaviors. Educational bias takes place in
differential gender, cultural, economic, and ethnic situations. We see this in teacher
instructional practices, attitudes, and behavioral expectations.

2. AGING ISSUES

Cover the issues of elderly people and aging education. Education is no longer tied to
youth, there's no escaping the fact that we're getting older. Awareness on social
processes of aging in the 21st century works with the media. It's a reality that poses
challenges to society, but also unique opportunities for students and graduates.

3. TEEN PREGNANCY

Also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in females under the age of 20.
The causes of teenage pregnancy include a lack of access to sexual and reproductive
health education and services that soon leads to the following reasons why pregnant
teens leave high school:
 Some teen moms need to work and can’t get enough work hours if they have to
work around schoolwork.
 Some pregnant teens may just be embarrassed, especially if some students or
staff aren’t supportive.
 Daycare is a concern. Not all family members are supportive enough or have
enough free time to watch the baby while its mom goes to school and does
homework.

4. LOSS AND GRIEF

Loss is an inevitable part of life, and grief is a natural part of the healing process. The
reasons for grief are many, such as the loss of a loved one, the loss of health, or the
letting go of a long-held dream. Dealing with a significant loss can be one of the most
difficult times in a person's life.
In a classroom setting, the devastation being experienced by a student coming to
terms with the death of a family member or peer, can have overwhelming repercussions,
for the student, the rest of the class, and for the teachers. It is important for teachers to
understand that, after a death has occurred, there are other losses to consider besides
the immediately significant loss. As with the aftershocks from an earthquake, secondary
losses can be just as devastating to a student, and affect his/her performance
academically, socially, emotionally, and even physically, for years to come.
A child trying to come to terms with the permanence of the death of a loved one or
peer may experience many emotions, the outward expression of which is not considered
acceptable or desirable in a school setting. A child’s world is very much dependent upon
others making decisions for him/her. Without any social, political, financial powers of their
own, children are at the mercy of their elders. When a child’s emotional anchors have
been pulled up, he/she has not yet acquired the adequate skills with which to cope and
adjust. In subsequent posts, I will elaborate on how educators can play a vital role in
implementing death education in the classroom.

5. DISABILITY

Is physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.

A disability is an impairment that may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental,
physical, sensory, or some combination of these. It substantially affects a person's life
activities and may be present from birth or occur during a person's lifetime.
Children with disabilities face multiple forms of discrimination which leads to their
exclusion from society and school. Attitudes toward children with disabilities, as well as a
lack of resources to accommodate them, compound the challenges they face in
accessing education. While lack of access to school is an issue, an equal concern is the
inability of the education system to ensure quality education for children with disabilities.

6. ABUSE AND ADDICTION

Drug abuse often starts first. Though at its worst it can look like addiction, there is one
key characteristic that makes drug dependence different.
To solve this problem from its roots, we need to begin to talk about the problem and
educate communities about drug addiction and the factors that lead to it, in order to
prevent future onset of addiction. In order to put a stop to behaviors connected to
substance abuse, we need to educate all people, especially younger generations, in order
to provide them with the resources and tools that they need to make choices that will
deter them from a life of addiction. Education can, and needs, to be everywhere— in the
home, in schools and among friends.

7. FAMILY REDEFINITION

Today, we live in a world whose core values increasingly represent the drastic
redefinition and acceptance of what a person and family actually is. Same sex
relationships and legalization of same sex marriage with equal status to that of traditional
marriage has transformed the landscape. In addition, there is the encouragement and
affirmation of having children outside of marriage as well as partial and full term
abortions. To compound things further, instead of the once universally accepted male
and female identifiers, we now have the recognition of multiple human genders: male,
female, homosexual, lesbian, bisexual, transgender. The perpetuation of this redefinition
of human kind is now taught in our schools and social systems as well as strongly
embraced and showcased in the media.
Where are we going and what will this redefinition mean? Under the name of diversity
and multiculturalism, an environment is been created which increasingly rules out any
absolutes. By this I mean, all are entitled to believe as they choose, practice any kind of
religion as they wish, marry whom they will, live as they desire. This is the age of
complete 'freedom', some would say. There is no right way to God, because really, each
is his own god. Or, the 'Universe' is god and reveals itself to each one independently
without demanding any rules or absolutes. Consequently, whatever one believes is
legitimate, good and right for them. No one has a right to judge another person's actions
or behavior. Even more so, no one has a right to claim that they have found the only way
to God. To those who would dare to claim absolute knowledge, or right and wrong, they
are seen as stuck in time, prejudice, inflexible, insensitive, unloving and not given to
diversity. In fact, those who continue to cling to such beliefs must be seen as
unenlightened and ignorant, set in opposition against a society with newer, favourable,
and more equitable values.

8. GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS

People around the world face violence and inequality—and sometimes torture, even
execution—because of who they love, how they look, or who they are. Sexual orientation
and gender identity are integral aspects of our selves and should never lead to
discrimination or abuse. Human Rights Watch works for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender peoples' rights, and with activists representing a multiplicity of identities and
issues. We document and expose abuses based on sexual orientation and gender
identity worldwide, including torture, killing and executions, arrests under unjust laws,
unequal treatment, censorship, medical abuses, discrimination in health and jobs and
housing, domestic violence, abuses against children, and denial of family rights and
recognition. We advocate for laws and policies that will protect everyone’s dignity. We
work for a world where all people can enjoy their rights fully.

9. INTERGROUP MARRIAGE

The definition of intergroup is something that deals with two or more collections of
different people. Intergroup marriage is not concentrated among particular ethnic groups,
nor is it a characteristic of persons with either high or low levels of education.

10. DISCRIMINATION AND STEREOTYPING

Discrimination means treating a person unfairly because of who they are or because
they possess certain characteristics.
Stereotyping is when you judge a group of people who are different from you based on
your own and/or others opinions and/or encounters. Despite many efforts to increase
gender fairness in education in recent years, the issue has not yet become obsolete:
Gender discrimination still exists and finds expression in unused chances and limited
action repertoires for both sexes. This article gives an overview on existing gender
differences across the lifespan before providing explanations for these differences from a
developmental perspective. We present psychological theories of development dealing
with the adoption of gender typical preferences and behaviors in children, and draw the
connection to the role parents’ and teachers’ gender stereotypes play in this process. The
mechanisms contributing to the perpetuation of gender differences are illustrated via
empirical studies. Finally, we offer starting points for interventions to prevent the
development of these gender differences, and introduce the REFLECT program which
enhances gender competence in secondary school teachers and their students, and a
training program for kindergarten teachers as concrete examples of such interventions.
 (REPORT IN COUNSELING TECHNOLOGY)

Submitted by:

Claudine Christiane P. Caparas

Submitted to:

Prof. Gualolarina Fernandez