Cultural Diversity in Education

What is culture and what are some of its most important aspects?

• Culture is a group of behaviors that define a people: - a set of beliefs, language, behaviors, music, food, etc.

What is Multicultural Education and what are its goals?

• Multicultural education is based on teaching different cultural backgrounds in the classroom. The goal of it is to have students recognize/respect different perspectives, and for students of all backgrounds to feel included, appreciated, and ultimately giving them support to be successful.

How does multicultural education reflect responsive teaching to help meet the academic needs of diverse student populations?

• Multicultural education is very important in our classrooms. When we include aspects of various cultures in our classrooms, we not only broaden all student's knowledge and awareness of others, but also provides a strong support for all children to feel respected, valued, and worthy. Ultimately, multicultural education provides the students with tools to prosper and be successful, not only in the education environment, but also in life.
  

How can multicultural education affect broader social issues that impact our society? (e.g., intercultural communication/relations, prejudice, stereotypes, crime & poverty rates, achievement gaps, etc.)

• I believe that providing students with the diverse knowledge of various cultures can promote more acceptance and understanding, which is at the basis of most, if not all, of societal miscommunication and misunderstandings. If cultural diversity is integrated into the established classroom curriculum, the children can grow up with a better understanding of how to interact with others who are different, thus improving interpersonal relationships amongst all. That would be the hope, in any case.

What other significant insight(s) have you gained and how will this insight impact your personal/professional life?

• Being as I am from another country, upon arriving to the United States I have had to incorporate and assimilate many of the aspects of the local culture. Although Colombia, my home country, and the United States share many cultural aspects, such as religion or courtesies, still there are many others that are very different. By my being culturally diverse, I believe that is a strong tool that I can incorporate into my teaching. I am aware of many of my students' backgrounds and their way of thinking, and can help make their classroom environment more amenable to all, acknowledging their various belief systems, behaviors, etc., thus supporting their academic achievement and success.

Song: "Imagine" by John Lennon

"Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you".

This song to me symbolizes unity, the coming together of man as one and the same. Where there is no land to divide us, no religion to make us war, no possessions to fight over and covet, only people sharing the world. It is a beautiful message to all humankind, to share and enjoy our world with each other. That is the message which I would like my students to carry with them as they move along through life.