A

IS

&

STEREOTYPES, THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP, AND THE

BENEFITS OF A MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION

READINGS/VISUAL MEDIA:

RACIAL STEREOTYPING
WHO IS TO BLAME?
Starts at a young age
Need for an Anti-Bias Curriculum
A- acknowledgement of differences
B- recognize unfair behavior
C- taking action to change a biased situation
https://youtu.be/EQACkg5i4AY

MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION
Food, dress, and ethnic celebrations
Fairyland multicultural education
Multicultural education without a
sociopolitical context

What did your Multicultural

Education look like?

FAIRYLAND MULTICULTURAL
EDUCATION

WHAT IT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE

IDENTITY, DIFFERENCE,
POWER, AND PRIVILEGE
ARE ALL CONNECTED
Frames how one experiences the world
Multicultural Education is inclusive
Its for EVERYONE
We need to understand the cultures present in
our classroom

THE CULTURE QUIZ

1)Guadalupe is a smiling 3rd grader from Argentina. She seems
well-mannered and eager to please. However, when you speak to
her she refuses to look at you.
2)Youre a 4th grade teacher who wants to write a quick note home
to an ESL students family. You pick up the pen that you use to
mark papers and write the note. When you hand the note to the
student, she looks upset.
3)Pablo is a well mannered boy from Colombia. He insists on calling
you Teacher instead of your name which you are sure he knows.
4)You notice that a Muslim child in your classroom refuses to take
a sheet of paper from a classmate. This isnt the first time this
has occurred.

ANSWERS
1.In many cultures its considered rude to look directly at
an adult or a person considered a higher status.
2.Oops! Youve used a red pen and written a note to the
parents. This is upsetting in many cultures because red is
the color of death. Pay attention to this especially with
Korean parents.
3.In many cultures, it is rude to use the teachers name.
Respect is shown by addressing the teacher as Teacher.
4.The student is probably handing the paper with her left
hand. In many cultures the left hand is seen as
unclean. You dont hand people objects with it.

ACHIEVEMENT GAP
Teachers are blamed
Who is really to blame?

ACHIEVEMENT GAP
CONTINUED
2 major causes:
Sociocultural~ poverty
School-related factors~ low expectations
Deficit theories: assume that some children
because of genetic, cultural, or experiential
differences, are inferior to other children

HOW CAN WE CLOSE THE

ACHIEVEMENT GAP?
Equal education
How can we equally fund schools?
Inclusion of cultures/learning styles

TEACHERS
Are not villains
Not knowledgeable enough about students
backgrounds
Didnt have a multicultural education
Policies beyond their control affect them
as well

NO EDUCATIONAL
PHILOSOPHY/PROGRAM IS
WORTHWHILE UNLESS IT FOCUSES
ON:
1.Tackling inequality and promoting access
to an equal education
2.Raising the achievement of all students
and providing them with an equitable
and high-quality education
3.Providing students with an
apprenticeship in the opportunity to
become critical and productive members
of a democratic society

WHAT SHOULD THIS LOOK

LIKE?
1.Anti-racist education
2.Basic education
3.Important for all students
4.Is pervasive
5.Education for social justice
6.Is a process
7.Is critical pedagogy

SOCIOPOLITICAL CONTEXT OF
EDUCATION
Teachers can ask:
1.Who are you?
2.How do you identify yourself?
3.Whats your family like?
4.How do you live?
5.What are your values?
6.What helps you learn?
7.What are your desires/hopes for the
future?

STEREOTYPES DONT DEFINE

WHO WE ARE
https://youtu.be/mOhp1WkFtxU