In the Chapter 3 of the book Affirming Diversity, it has been emphasized that antiracism is at the very core of a multicultural perspective. And this can not just be made on the superficial level, such as ethnic festivals, food festivals, exotic cloth program or bulletin boards decoration. It must be made mindfully and consciously and inclusive and balanced, such as the choice of curriculum , teaching materials, policies and practices, the recruitment and promotion of employees and teachers’ attitude and interaction with students and parents, and so forth. I partly agree to the statement and support the idea that the multicultural education perspective should go around a core, but I would put the core as “justice” not the “antiracism” because “antiracism” makes me feel the smoke of fire. I do not deny that, in the long history, some group or segregation are overwhelming over others, psychologically , made the other side expose to overturn and balance the world for many sound reasons. This just makes people fight rather than lead people back on the right road of truth-justice. To be straightforward, endless fighting does not make any good change. At school level, any decisions, comments, critics must be made on justice base, teachers treat students and parents equally both physically and psychologically. Any comment given from the teachers or parents must be based on students performance only with no regard of the race, identities, color of skin and so forth. It is a fact that we look different, but we do have things in common, such as everybody has the right to receive their education, every student needs teachers’ attention, all parents are welcomed to be involved in school education, all teachers need respect from students, parents, fellow teachers and society, every educator should take the responsibility to educate young generations to be a better mature person with bright future. If “justice” can be imbedded in mind, who is going to fight for racism?
However, I totally agree to the statement explained in the part “multicultural education is basic education” that , under monocultural education, students only learn a fraction of what is available knowledge and those who decide what is most important make choices that are influenced by their own limited background, education and experiences. Under multicultural education perspective, it seems more open and acceptable. As a person in this world, no matter where you are, not matter who you are, it is our right and responsibility to know and understand the world for real. Dominated education makes students’ learning incomplete. As a consequence, the curriculums, especially art, history, social study and school activities must be taught inclusively in school and the subject teaching should relate to multi-societies, backgrounds and varied culture.
Respond to the “multicultural education is education for social justice”, I basically appreciate the philosophy that developing a multicultural perspective means learning how to think in more inclusive and expansive ways, reflecting on what is learned, and applying that learning to real situations. Compare with Asian learners, who are a little bit bookish, in my opinion, students in this country have stronger ability to apply their learning to real situations. However, I was stuck by the example given afterwards, saying that middle school students are the most sensitive to fair, anger, resentment and alienation. What does it mean? It means that middle school teachers need to satisfy and reflect themselves when they receive the signal from the students emotional behavior?. They are during the adolescent, a period of very strong rebellion. During this period, young people appear very emotional and sensitive. But it does not mean that they respond or act appropriately. Instead, teachers should stand steadily on justice to guide students psychologically and professionally in correct direction and method.
It is very true that multicultural education is critical pedagogy. It is pretty challenge for both teachers and students, parents and society. But it indeed open your eyes wide as much you can. I would follow up and support the viewpoint of using a critical perspective to understand the reality. According to James Bank, the main goal of a multicultural curriculum is to help students develop decision-making and social action skills. By doing so, students learn to view events and situations from a variety of perspectives. Without doubt, nothing can be learned completely and perfectly. Still, if teachers make their best efforts to provide as many ways as they can to enlarge the possibilities, students will know and understand the reality and the world more objectively. A multicultural approach values diversity and encourages critical thinking, reflection, and action. For example, what we are doing now is actually kind of critical philosophy. Our profession is now providing the opportunities to be critical and not just repeat teacher’s words. And I believe most of us enjoy our discussion and comments on whatever we have read. In another word, being critical can make educators more like a real educator and students more like real being educated.
It can not be denied that America is a very special country in the world. It is a country with more than two hundred years of history, full of diversity, races, culture, religions and so forth. There are many issues need to be talked about. There are a lot of changes need to be made. Multicultural education is basically a philosophy which fixes the situation. The point is how we are going to change in education? What is the goal? And Why? It is not supposed to be just a movement. Instead, we should seek for a right direction. As educators, we should take the responsibility not only to teach students knowledge in a broad perspective but educate them to shape their personalities to be positively mature by justice action. Educators’ justice action itself is an education. To make the multicultural education more beautiful and overwhelming , every educator, student and parent needs to think critically to push the school reform move in a better way. After all, it is a multicultural education for all in this country.
However, I totally agree to the statement explained in the part “multicultural education is basic education” that , under monocultural education, students only learn a fraction of what is available knowledge and those who decide what is most important make choices that are influenced by their own limited background, education and experiences. Under multicultural education perspective, it seems more open and acceptable. As a person in this world, no matter where you are, not matter who you are, it is our right and responsibility to know and understand the world for real. Dominated education makes students’ learning incomplete. As a consequence, the curriculums, especially art, history, social study and school activities must be taught inclusively in school and the subject teaching should relate to multi-societies, backgrounds and varied culture.
Respond to the “multicultural education is education for social justice”, I basically appreciate the philosophy that developing a multicultural perspective means learning how to think in more inclusive and expansive ways, reflecting on what is learned, and applying that learning to real situations. Compare with Asian learners, who are a little bit bookish, in my opinion, students in this country have stronger ability to apply their learning to real situations. However, I was stuck by the example given afterwards, saying that middle school students are the most sensitive to fair, anger, resentment and alienation. What does it mean? It means that middle school teachers need to satisfy and reflect themselves when they receive the signal from the students emotional behavior?. They are during the adolescent, a period of very strong rebellion. During this period, young people appear very emotional and sensitive. But it does not mean that they respond or act appropriately. Instead, teachers should stand steadily on justice to guide students psychologically and professionally in correct direction and method.
It is very true that multicultural education is critical pedagogy. It is pretty challenge for both teachers and students, parents and society. But it indeed open your eyes wide as much you can. I would follow up and support the viewpoint of using a critical perspective to understand the reality. According to James Bank, the main goal of a multicultural curriculum is to help students develop decision-making and social action skills. By doing so, students learn to view events and situations from a variety of perspectives. Without doubt, nothing can be learned completely and perfectly. Still, if teachers make their best efforts to provide as many ways as they can to enlarge the possibilities, students will know and understand the reality and the world more objectively. A multicultural approach values diversity and encourages critical thinking, reflection, and action. For example, what we are doing now is actually kind of critical philosophy. Our profession is now providing the opportunities to be critical and not just repeat teacher’s words. And I believe most of us enjoy our discussion and comments on whatever we have read. In another word, being critical can make educators more like a real educator and students more like real being educated.
It can not be denied that America is a very special country in the world. It is a country with more than two hundred years of history, full of diversity, races, culture, religions and so forth. There are many issues need to be talked about. There are a lot of changes need to be made. Multicultural education is basically a philosophy which fixes the situation. The point is how we are going to change in education? What is the goal? And Why? It is not supposed to be just a movement. Instead, we should seek for a right direction. As educators, we should take the responsibility not only to teach students knowledge in a broad perspective but educate them to shape their personalities to be positively mature by justice action. Educators’ justice action itself is an education. To make the multicultural education more beautiful and overwhelming , every educator, student and parent needs to think critically to push the school reform move in a better way. After all, it is a multicultural education for all in this country.
没有评论:
发表评论