Cultural Issues in Education

Group II

Stacie GidaDareshanie Graham

Ian Morris

Today’s Students are Changing

The United States has just experienced the greatest surge in immigration in its entire history.

People are coming mostly from the Latin America and Asia.

Frame of Reference

School-age Americans who speak another language at home—6,322,934 (14%)

Students who live in households where everyone speaks a language other than English—4,834,637

By 2012 the west will become ―minority-majority‖ with no single group holding the majority.

What Strategies will you Use to Foster Equity and Excellence in Your Classroom?

Give all a chance to succeed.

Give equal attention.

Model Skills and behaviors that

reflect sensitivity.

• Don’t Stereotype (avoid statements that ignore individual differences).

• Don’t Alienate—Learn to pronounce names correctly.

Multicultural Education—What are the Different Levels?

Level 1—Contributions Approach

Level 2– Additive Approach

Level 3– Transformation Approach

Level 4– Social Action

Bilingual Education—Political/Instructional Issues.

Bilingual Education—The use of two languages for instruction.

America was more open to bilingual education in the past.

In 1837—Pennsylvania law required school instruction to be given on an equal basis (especially in German).

WWI—Foreign languages seen as unpatriotic. German routed from curriculum.

Students either learned English through total submersion or failed (many left school).

In the 1960’s Education was less of an option and more of a necessity. Government provided financial incentives to districts that incorporated bilingual ed.

(choice was left to school whether to implement programs.)

Political Issues and Legislation

1974-Lau vs. Nichols—Focus on Kinny Lau and 1800 other Chinese students who were failing school because of language barrier.

Prompted Congress to pass the Equal Educational Opportunities. Districts must take positive steps to provide equal education by eliminating language barriers.

Students should be instructed in both languages.

Some Methods of Teaching

Submersion—Students sit in all English classes and either learn or not.

Immersion—somewhat less rigid—teacher usually understands the native language.

The transitional approach begins by using the native language as a bridge to English-language instruction. Academic subjects are first taught using thenative language.

* Maintenance—Emphasizes both languages and the maintenance of a student’s first language.

Some Oppositional Arguments

Many believe that bilingual education threatens the status of English and the nation’s primary vehicles of communication.

Some believe that bilingual education hurts students by making them dependent o the native language.

Opponents of bilingual education point to studies showing 1st and 2nd generation Hispanics who attended bilingual programs in the 1970’s. They make less money than those who were put into English only programs.

A Question to Ponder.

How do race, gender, and social class create difficult, even chaotic student cultures?