Multiculturalism in Social Studies

Multiculturalism in Social Studies

Grand Canyon University: EED 570
December 17, 2013
Introduction
Multicultural education emerged in the early 1990’s so as to address to social-educational needs of people/society that continued to struggle with the realization and believes of monoculture. Multicultural relates to a number of communities that consist of multiple cultures. Over the past 20 years or so, there were a number of issues that were influenced by cultural indifferences. During this period, people believed in their own culture and this influenced imbalance of culture between two dominant culture and subjected culture resulting to aggregation, antagonism, and resistance. However, multicultural education has enlightened the society by educating it on the significance multicultural. Generally, it is evident that the concept of culture differences has influenced more than a few factors in the society. Today, multiculturalism in social studies has enlightened people to know the significance of having different cultures in society.
Multicultural education has been changing in the social studies since the early 1960’s. Advocates of multicultural education have played a considerable role of describing the significance of multicultural education by eliminating the diversities that are involved in different cultures. Based on research, it is evident that multicultural education includes practices and theories that are intended to promote equal access and thorough academic accomplishment for a student from different groups. One of the major importance of cultural education is that it has influenced social change towards people. As the procedure of educational change in schools, higher institutions, and globally, multicultural education has influenced the identification of different identities from students. Since the development of multicultural education, students are in a position to identify and appreciate their own culture and also identify its similarities and differences. Some of the significant components of a multicultural education are to influence awareness of cultural influences in the society and gives students the skills to communicate effectively across all cultures (Bower & Lobdell, 2003).
There are a number of implications that are influenced by multicultural education. Multicultural education influences completeness of perspectives in content especially to students. The main objective of multiculturalism in social studies is to assist students to acquire knowledge, attitudes, and skills required in a society. Students learn the significance of interacting, negotiating, and communicating with people from different groups so as to create a moral, and a civic society that works for a common good. A number of people argue that multicultural education promotes globalism over nationalism, and this has influenced students, and a number of people to forget their cultures. However, it is evident that multicultural education has significantly influenced the growth and development of education. In addition, the purpose of multiculturalism in social studies aims in promoting unity and equality. In addition, it promotes patriotism and demonstrates multiculturalism in an influential social studies education. It is evident that education is intended to assist students understand their community cultures and their homes (Taylor, 1990).
Multicultural education is significant because it acknowledges the plans of social studies education. In addition, it provides students with a strong foundation in social sciences and skills that are required to make students become critical decision makers. Multicultural education is beyond teaching tolerance because it teaches people on the curricular issues that give people distress, and also address issues that are difficult to students. There are various activities applied in order to influence the significance of multicultural education. Teachers encourage students to interact in order to accomplish the goals required in a multicultural society. These activities include playing games such as football, volleyball in order to bring people of diverse communities together (Taylor, 1990).
Activities of bringing diverse cultures together have influenced more than a few changes globally. Apart from education, socializing and equality has enhanced the enhancement of multicultural in schools. This has significantly assisted in eliminating ethnicity, racism, and discrimination in the society. It is evident that sports contribute significantly in enhancing and strengthening multicultural education. Different students from diverse institutions have the main concern of learning and understanding different cultures and their significance. As a result of different activities in schools, multicultural education has influenced more than a few changes in on how people communicate, interact, and share ideas. Conversely, teachers’ beliefs and actions clearly reflect how cultural education has enhanced a number of changes globally (Bower & Lobdell, 2003).
It is evident that the effort that teachers apply in schools has assisted students to come together as one. Teachers believe that a multicultural approach to education is an ongoing procedure that has assisted students to understand the society and different aspects in it. In general, the action and beliefs of teachers clearly reflect that students understand and appreciate their own culture while at the same time recognizing the similarities and differences to other cultures and views in the society. Teachers have incorporated different methods to educators that provide a number of perspectives on the subject they teach. Their actions and lessons cultivate students’ critical thinking and also allow students to have a better understanding on the subjects (Taylor, 1990).
The role of students on multicultural education is diverse. The implementation of multicultural education in institutions/schools has reflected a wide collection of cultures across the globe. The responsibility and role of students is to ensure that culture does not divide people. Multicultural is appropriate in schools because it promotes or prepares students for their role and responsibilities in a transitional world. Students promote a number of perspectives and an appreciation of linguistics and cultural diversity within an independent society. Students are encouraged to eliminate ethnicity through multicultural education. As a result of increased development, it is evident that ethnicity is growing at a rapid pace. In that case, this means that students have the role in the society of transforming the world by eliminating factors that will influence ethnicity. Students are taught in schools about ethnicity in order for them to transform the society by enlightening the society. Students interact and communicate in schools with other students from different tribes (Bower & Lobdell, 2003). Multicultural social studies ought to comprise of a number of factors. Based on research, multicultural education should compose different aspects such as sports, interaction, and communication. Every student ought to have equal opportunities of achieving their full potential through multicultural education. In addition, students ought to have the role and responsibility of working in order to enhance and influence the growth and development of the society. The role of teachers ought to be based on teaching about multicultural in order to facilitate learning for every student despite their differences and ethnic group. This enhances unity and development of people in the society. In addition, schools must practice the responsibility of ending oppression and discrimination in the society. This will significantly influence promote the laying of a strong foundation that will eliminate injustice and oppression. In general, goal of multicultural education is to promote and effect social change in the society (Weisman & Hansen, 2007). There are more than a few advantages and disadvantages of multicultural education. In the current world, there are a number of reasons that teachers and students need in order to embrace multicultural education. Some of the major advantages of multicultural education are to provide a number of factors. For instance, people enjoy the diversity in their entertainment, food choices, and cultural choices. It is evident that most of the students have enhanced their social because of cultural behavior. Based on research, if multicultural education is not utilized, ethnicity would be one of the general aspects to deteriorate the society. Multicultural education facilitates greater understanding to students and also enhances cohesion in the classroom and the entire schools as well (Bower & Lobdell, 2003).
Disadvantage in multicultural education is mainly influenced by barriers between cultures and during the period when individuals are resistant to cultures that are very different. This cultures influence challenges of understanding other cultures and also exposing their culture as a result of the language barrier. It is evident that there are growing shifts within the enlightening/learning climate in schools. The major disadvantage to educating multicultural education is the family. This might appear as false, but based on research, it is totally true. It is evident that most students have very strong ties with their families. This indicates that most of them come from families that condemn them from learning cultures. For instance, it is evident that a number of families are not concerned about other culture because they hate or dislike their behavior. Therefore, most students pretend to pay attention towards multicultural edu8cation, but in the real sense they have been influenced by their parents never to mind about particular cultures (Weisman & Hansen, 2007).
There are more than a few ways that one can adjust their teaching strategies to be more culturally relevant. Some of these ways include uniting students of different backgrounds together in order to share ideas and interact. The concept of interacting and communicating enhances students to learn from one another and even share ideas that would assist them to have a better understanding of different cultures globally. It also important as a teacher to ensure that students understand about equality and equity in order to offer an equitable educational chance while at also encouraging students to critique society in the attention of social justice. These factors assist students to understand the significance of growing together as a one society. In addition, teachers ought to expose and describe the significance on culture and multicultural education. People ought to understand that culture is an important aspect in the society. However, they should also understand the significance of having multicultural education in order to understand other cultures and help in developing the society (Weisman & Hansen, 2007).
Conclusion
In summation, as described in this paper, it is evident that multicultural education has influenced the identification of different identities from students. Since the development of multicultural education, students are in a position to identify and appreciate their own culture and also identify its similarities and differences. In that case, model of multicultural education is considered as an important aspect in both schools and the society. Multicultural frameworks are utilized in the procedure education because they create a society that is ready to grow and develop together. Multicultural education assists students to share ideas on multicultural. The role of students is to ensure that they expose their cultures and share them in order to influence growth and development in the society. The interaction of students will determine how people will live and create the society in the future among other aspects.
References
Bower &Lobdell. (2003). Social Studies Alive! Engaging Diverse Learners in the Elementary Classroom. Teacher 's Curriculum Institute. Print.
Taylor, O., L., (1990). Cross-cultural Communication: An Essential Dimension of Effective Education. Print. School of Education. The American University. Retrieved from http://crosscultured.com/documents/C%20&%20A%20file/Equity.pdf
Weisman & Hansen, (2007). Strategies for Teaching Social Studies to English-Language
Learners at the Elementary Level. Social studies. Library source

References: Bower &Lobdell. (2003). Social Studies Alive! Engaging Diverse Learners in the Elementary Classroom. Teacher 's Curriculum Institute. Print. Taylor, O., L., (1990). Cross-cultural Communication: An Essential Dimension of Effective Education. Print. School of Education. The American University. Retrieved from http://crosscultured.com/documents/C%20&%20A%20file/Equity.pdf Weisman & Hansen, (2007). Strategies for Teaching Social Studies to English-Language Learners at the Elementary Level. Social studies. Library source